Outsmart, Outlast, Outperform

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You’ve probably heard the term “a level playing field,” which refers to a scenario where everyone has an equal chance of winning.

For example, the desktop computer leveled the playing field by giving individual entrepreneurs virtually the same computing power as individuals working at multi-billion dollar companies.

When starting a business, you should choose a space where the field is level, meaning entering a market where you have a fair chance of winning.

But after you start your business, and/or if you have a more mature business, I encourage you to unlevel the playing field.

What I mean by unleveling the playing field is making it so that nobody wants to compete against you. I want you to have an unfair advantage (using ethical tactics, of course) so that you can win the game.

So how can you unlevel the playing field? One of the best ways is to create organizational assets that your competitors don’t.

Here are examples of organizational assets you can build:

  • Team

    • Do I have the right mix of skills and expertise on my team?

    • What training, coaching, or incentives could I implement to enhance team performance?

    • How can I attract and retain top talent in my industry?

    • Are there key leadership or advisory roles I should fill to accelerate growth?

    • How can I cultivate a culture that fosters innovation and resilience?

  • Customers

    • Who are my most valuable customers, and how can I deepen my relationship with them?

    • What strategies can I use to increase customer loyalty and lifetime value?

    • How can I make my brand the go-to choice for my target audience?

    • What feedback loops can I implement to understand better and serve my customers?

    • Are there new market segments or demographics I should explore?

  • Systems

    • What inefficiencies exist in my current operations, and how can I streamline them?

    • Can I leverage automation, AI, or technology to improve productivity?

    • Do I have scalable systems in place to handle future growth?

    • How can I make my customer experience smoother and more personalized?

    • Are there any supply chain, fulfillment, or service delivery bottlenecks?

  • Products and/or services

    • How can I improve my current offerings to make them more valuable?

    • What new products or services could I develop to differentiate my business?

    • Are there emerging trends or technologies that I should incorporate into my offerings?

    • How can I bundle or repackage my products/services to create more value?

    • What unique intellectual property or proprietary advantage can I develop?

  • Partnerships

    • What strategic alliances or collaborations could give me a competitive edge?

    • Are there influencers or industry leaders I can partner with to expand my reach?

    • How can I leverage partnerships to create exclusive opportunities for my business?

    • What joint ventures or co-branded initiatives could accelerate my growth?

    • Are there suppliers or vendors I should negotiate better terms with to strengthen my margins?

Your competitors may be working hard, but you can work smarter by building assets that set your business apart. Choose one or more of these areas to develop in 2025 and start executing today, because the best way to win is to make the game unwinnable for anyone else.