Who This Helps
You're a founder operator juggling a dozen ideas. Every week, you hear a new market signal, a competitor move, or a customer complaint. You need to pick one experiment that actually moves the needle. The Strategy Basics: Competitive Map course is built for exactly this moment.
Mini Case
Meet Aisha. She runs a B2B SaaS tool for small marketing teams. Last quarter, her team ran 7 experiments: a pricing change, a new feature, a content series, a partnership, a referral program, a chatbot upgrade, and a free trial tweak. Only 2 showed any lift. The rest wasted 12% of her monthly budget. Aisha realized she needed a framework to prioritize, not just brainstorm.
She used the Competitive Map course to build a one-page strategy artifact. She mapped where she wins (customer segment: bootstrapped agencies), where she loses (enterprise features), and what move to make next (double down on agency-specific onboarding). Her next experiment? A 3-step onboarding flow. Result: 40% faster activation in 7 days.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- List your top 3 experiments from the last month. Be honest about which flopped.
- Map your competitive position using the Differentiation Grid from the course. Write down one place you clearly win and one place you clearly lose.
- Pick one customer segment wedge from the Customer Segment Wedge mission. Focus your next experiment on that group only.
- Check your moat signals from the Moat Signals mission. Does your experiment strengthen a moat (like switching costs or brand) or just chase a trend?
- Make a strategic tradeoff using the Strategic Tradeoff mission. Say no to one experiment so you can say yes to the highest-impact move.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't run experiments for every competitor move. Aisha learned this the hard way. Only act on signals that change your competitive map.
- Don't pick a segment wedge that's too broad. If your wedge is "all small businesses," you'll dilute your positioning. Pick one specific type of customer.
- Don't skip the moat check. A feature that's easy to copy won't give you lasting advantage. Prioritize experiments that build defensibility.
- Don't confuse activity with progress. Running 5 experiments this week doesn't mean you're moving forward. Use the one-page artifact to see the big picture.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a clear answer to this question: What one experiment should I run next? You'll have a one-page competitive map that shows your best move. No more guessing. No more wasted budget. Just one focused experiment that builds your advantage. And hey, you might even have time to grab coffee before the weekend.