Who This Helps
This is for founders and operators who feel stuck in analysis mode. You've done the research for the Market Intelligence & Positioning course, but now you need to get your stakeholders to agree and act. This turns your insights into a clear, one-page plan.
Mini Case
Zaid, a founder, spent 3 weeks analyzing 5 key competitors. He had 40 pages of notes but couldn't get his team to agree on a direction. He built a simple positioning grid with 4 key criteria. In one 60-minute meeting, his team saw the clear trade-offs, chose a wedge, and approved the new strategy. They launched the test in 7 days.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab your notes from your Competitor Claim Audit. Separate the evidence-backed claims from the narrative noise.
- Pick the 3-4 most important buying criteria for your ideal customer. Keep it simple, like 'ease of use,' 'price,' and 'depth of features.'
- Draw a simple grid. List your company and 2-3 closest competitors down the side. List your criteria across the top.
- Score each competitor (use a simple High/Medium/Low) for each criterion based on your evidence. Be brutally honest.
- Circle the one box where you clearly win or can create a unique wedge. That's your starting point for your positioning statement card. This is your one-page artifact.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't use 10 criteria. You'll confuse everyone. Stick to the 3-4 that truly drive decisions.
- Don't hide your weaknesses. Acknowledging where a competitor is stronger builds credibility and sharpens your wedge.
- Don't present the grid as the final answer. Present it as the map that shows why one path is the best bet.
- Don't skip the visual. A simple table on a whiteboard or slide is 10x more effective than a verbal summary.
- Don't get lost in perfect scores. Use the evidence you have, make the call, and keep moving.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you can have a single page—your positioning grid—that visually shows why your chosen path is the right bet. You'll walk into your next stakeholder meeting with compact evidence, not a data dump. The goal isn't more debate; it's a clear 'yes' so you can execute. Time to turn that analysis into your next launch.