Your Next Five Moves

by Patrick Bet-David

July 06, 2025

Overview

"Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy" by Patrick Bet-David, published in 2020, is a strategic guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Drawing from his experience as a successful entrepreneur and CEO, Bet-David presents a framework for thinking ahead and making strategic decisions in business.

Central Thesis

The central thesis of "Your Next Five Moves" is that success in business requires the ability to think several steps ahead, much like a chess grandmaster. Bet-David argues that by mastering five key strategic moves, entrepreneurs can navigate challenges, scale their businesses, and achieve long-term success.

Key Strengths

  1. Strategic Framework: Offers a clear, actionable approach to business strategy.

  2. Practical Insights: Provides real-world examples and lessons from Bet-David's experiences.

  3. Comprehensive Coverage: Addresses various aspects of business, from self-awareness to team building and scaling.

  4. Motivational Tone: Encourages readers to think bigger and more strategically about their business goals.

Structure of the Book

The book is organised around five key strategic moves:

  1. Master knowing yourself

  2. Master the ability to reason

  3. Master building the right team

  4. Master strategy to scale

  5. Master power plays

Key Concepts and Practical Insights

  • Self-Awareness: Emphasises the importance of understanding personal strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Conduct regular self-assessments to align business decisions with personal values and aspirations.

  • Strategic Reasoning: Focuses on developing critical thinking skills for business. Practise solving complex problems by breaking them down into manageable parts.

  • Team Building: Highlights the crucial role of assembling and managing the right team. Develop a clear set of principles for hiring and cultivating company culture.

  • Scaling Strategies: Provides frameworks for growing a business effectively. Identify key metrics for your business and create systems to track and improve them.

  • Power Dynamics: Discusses the importance of understanding and leveraging power in business relationships. Study negotiation tactics and practice applying them in various business scenarios.

Memorable Quotes

  • "The ability to think ahead separates strategic thinkers from tactical thinkers."

  • "Your business will only grow to the extent that you do."

  • "The best entrepreneurs are not just problem solvers; they're problem finders."

Critique

While the book is praised for its practical advice and strategic insights, some critics argue that the chess analogy may be overextended at times. Additionally, some readers might find the focus on power plays and competitive strategy too aggressive for certain business contexts.

Target Audience

"Your Next Five Moves" is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone looking to develop their strategic thinking skills in a business context. It's especially useful for those who are scaling businesses or facing complex strategic decisions.

Conclusion

"Your Next Five Moves" offers a comprehensive and practical approach to business strategy, encouraging readers to think more critically and plan more effectively. Patrick Bet-David's experience as a successful entrepreneur lends credibility to his advice, making this book a valuable resource for those looking to enhance their strategic thinking and business acumen. While the aggressive, chess-like approach to strategy may not resonate with everyone, the book provides numerous insights and tools that can be adapted to various business situations and personal styles.