Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy Hamilton Helmer – Power + Business - [Invest Like the Best, EP.174]
66 snips
May 19, 2020 
Hamilton Helmer, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Strategy Capital, shares his profound insights as an expert in business strategy and author of "Seven Powers." He dives into the seven strategic powers companies can leverage for competitive advantage, discussing the importance of counter-positioning and cornered resources. Helmer illustrates how early-stage firms can navigate barriers as they evolve, emphasizing operational excellence and the significance of network effects in tech. He also highlights the artistic side of strategy and the value of mentorship in business.
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Benefits and Barriers to Power
- Power in business comes from benefits (something better) and barriers (preventing imitation).
- Durable success requires both, as seen with Intel's shift from memory chips (no barrier) to CPUs (scale economy barrier).
Benefits vs. Barriers
- Benefits are common, like a car bumper changing from chrome to plastic.
- Barriers are rare; they prevent competitors from easily copying your improvements.
Netflix's Path to Power
- Netflix didn't initially have a clear barrier, but they experimented.
- They found power through exclusive content deals, which created a cost barrier for competitors.
