BOOK OVERVIEW

Written by Tasmanian author, Jason Bresnehan, BOLD SWOT is a business book.

Most SWOT analyses are rubbish.

After more than thirty-five years working as a corporate financier, venture capitalist, founder, C-suite executive, business consultant, recovery consultant, author, and songwriter, Jason Bresnehan has facilitated, led, or participated in hundreds of SWOT workshops. Again and again, he has watched organizations produce four large lists, arrange them neatly into quadrants, and walk away believing they have completed a useful strategic exercise.

The problem is that most people do not understand how to use SWOT properly. The biggest mistake occurs when internal factors are confused with external forces, particularly when identifying Opportunities. Statements such as “we have an opportunity to grow sales” or “we have an opportunity to recruit more experts” are not SWOT Opportunities. They are wishes, goals, or suggested actions. A genuine Opportunity is an external force acting upon an organization, team, or individual and creating a leverage point.

BOLD SWOT restores the correct distinction. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors belonging to the entity and sitting within its control or influence. Opportunities and Threats are external forces acting upon the entity. Once those four elements have been identified correctly, the real work begins.

BOLD converts SWOT analysis into strategic and tactical action. Strengths are Built upon. Weaknesses are Overcome. Opportunities are Leveraged. Threats are Disrupted. Every item must be tested against the corresponding BOLD question: What are we going to do to Build upon this Strength? What are we going to do to Overcome this Weakness? What are we going to do to Leverage this Opportunity? What are we going to do to Disrupt this Threat?

The answers must become specific actions, with responsibility, completion, and effectiveness capable of being determined. Without BOLD, SWOT is four lists without a point. Once the SWOT has been BOLDed, it becomes an actionable plan capable of creating movement toward goals aligned with the entity’s mission.

BOLD SWOT is intentionally short, direct, and practical. There are no academic references, lengthy case studies, or padded explanations. It is written for companies, charities, government agencies, sporting teams, entrepreneurs, elite performers, recovery communities, and individuals rebuilding their lives after trauma, addiction, divorce, grief, or career disaster.

If you are tired of SWOT workshops that generate discussion, colored Post-it Notes, and very little traction, this book provides a straightforward way to convert reality into movement. It challenges accepted wisdom, exposes one of the most common strategic planning mistakes, and provides a practical framework for turning observation into execution.

Do a proper SWOT.

Then BOLD it.

About Jason

Consultant | Author | Songwriter

Jason Bresnehan works across three disciplines with one purpose — clarity, creativity, and conviction.

• Consulting:  I provide recovery consulting, workshops and speaking engagements for high-net-worth families and high-performing individuals navigating addiction, recovery and personal transformation. My approach combines lived recovery experience, The Trinity Stars Doctrine, and decades of executive leadership across venture capital, international operations and business transformation..

• Author: I write and publish non-fiction print and Kindle books across the domains, of faith, recovery and business.

• Songwriting: I am a Tasmanian songwriter writing and producing music through Seventh Ribbon Music — lyrics anchored in three enduring themes of the human condition: faith in God, identity, and movement through God's creation. The catalogue spans Country Rock & Blues, Contemporary Christian Music CCM Soft Rock and CCM Soulful/Ethereal, Blues, Folk, Americana and Adult Contemporary Pop/Rock.

Writer Scribbles is where I share insights, book excerpts, articles, lyrics, and reflections across my recovery consulting, writing, and songwriting worlds.