The companies who win aren’t the ones who break the rules, but change them. They create a sustainable competitive advantage, leading the market through innovation, setting themselves so far apart that the competition couldn’t catch up if they tried. If you want to win, model the industry leaders.
Neftlix leads with granular data
The effective implementation of customer data fueled every innovation, earning them a sustainable competitive advantage
- Without a significant emphasis on gathering and using granular customer data to drive their decisions, this pivot from DVD-rental to movie studio would have failed
Apple’s Competitive Advantage
Apple’s competitive advantage doesn’t come from smarmy sales tactics. It comes from an obsessive focus on the user experience.
- Despite competitors like Microsoft continuing to outpace Apple technologically, the company has stayed relevant for over 45 years, maintaining their reputation as a luxury brand.
You don’t have to play dirty to win.
Coke leads with superior product
- Pepsi was determined to close the gap and create their own competitive advantage
- In 1975 Pepsi launched the Pepsi Challenge
- 57% of participants unknowingly chose Pepsi over Coke
- This wildly successful campaign led Pepsi to increase their market share from 6% to over 14% in U.S. sales
- While Pepsi’s forumation was more enticing, Coke’s was more sustainable
- Coca-Cola created something so compelling that Americans couldn’t help but return to it again and again
