Who This Helps
This is for founder operators who have done the work in the Strategy Basics: Competitive Map course but feel stuck. You've plotted your competitors, but your team isn't moving. This helps you translate that map into a story that gets everyone aligned and ready to act.
Mini Case
Sam ran a SaaS company. Her team spent 3 weeks analyzing 8 competitors. She presented 15 slides of dense data. The result? Her board asked for *more* analysis, delaying a key product decision by 45 days. After reframing her findings into a simple, 3-point action plan, she got approval in the next meeting. The new feature launched 60 days faster.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pull out the 2-3 biggest gaps you found in your competitive map. What can you do that others aren't?
- Frame each gap as a customer problem. Instead of 'Competitor X lacks feature Y,' say 'Customers struggle with Z because no one solves it simply.'
- Attach one clear, immediate action to each problem. For example: 'Prototype a simple solution in the next 2 weeks.'
- Create a single slide with just those problems and proposed actions. Ditch the 10 other slides for now.
- Practice your 5-minute pitch on a friend who knows nothing about your business. If they get it, you're ready.
Avoid These Traps
- The Data Dump: Sharing every single data point from your map. It overwhelms people. Pick the highlights that tell a story.
- Analysis Paralysis: Using the map to ask for *more* research instead of proposing a next step. The goal is a decision, not another report.
- Jargon Jungle: Talking about 'competitive moats' and 'value vectors' with your operations lead. Use plain language about customer needs and team tasks.
- The Silent Map: Creating the competitive analysis and then filing it away. Its only value is in the conversation it starts. Get it in front of people.
Your Win by Friday
Your win isn't a perfect map. It's a clear next step that your team agrees on. This week, use your competitive map to answer one specific question: 'Based on where everyone else is, what's the one thing we should start doing differently next Monday?' Bring that one thing to your team huddle. You’ve got this.