Business strategy with Hamilton Helmer (author of 7 Powers)

Buffett famously said in business. I look for economic castles protected by unbreachable modes. Power requires a benefit and a barrier. So he's taking care of the benefit part by saying a castle. You have to have a pretty good understanding of why it's a castle and not a shack. So in a lot of decks, it's like oh we have the most amazing team, we move the fastest. You mentioned how rarely is that actually a power you're on a treadmill and if you stop running that treadmill you get creep but it's not power. The things that drive operational excellence can be mimicked. Let's actually talk about achieving these powers. There's a thing called power progression. There are times when certain types of power are available. The path to power is where the rubber meets the road. Today my guest is Hamilton Helmer. Hamilton is a legend in the world of strategy.

He's the author of Seven Powers, which outlines a framework for identifying and developing sustainable competitive advantage. It is widely considered to be the best book on strategy. And people like Patrick Halson, Peter Thiel. Read Hastings. Daniel Eck.

And so many more leaders credit the book and Hamilton's teachings for helping them build durable lasting companies. In our conversation, Hamilton shares what sources of power startups can start developing early. Which types of power companies often think they have, but they don't, how power relates to strategy and motes. When to start thinking about power as a startup, and also what individual product managers and non leaders can do about these insights about power. Also how Hamilton sees AI impacting barriers to entry. and the sources of power. He also gives a preview of his new book that he is working on currently.

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