ASYMMETRIC Helmer’s 7 Powers: Choosing Your Moat Vector in India + AOP Done Right (What, How, When)
Dec 12, 2025
In this episode, the hosts explore the timing and importance of creating an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for businesses, emphasizing flexibility in high-growth scenarios. They dive into the Seven Powers framework, analyzing different types of business moats like scale economics and process power. Discussions include Lenskart's competitive edge, challenges faced by companies like IndiGo, and the implications of quick-commerce rivalries, highlighting how Amazon Now utilizes data to establish trust. The conversation wraps with insights on AI's evolving role in business.
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Episode notes
Treat AOP As Flexible Guidance
- Do treat AOP as guidance rather than rigid target setting to stay adaptable.
- Build bottom-up and top-down baselines, then flex the plan as reality and surprises arrive.
Moats Shift Over Time
- Moats (the seven powers) are not permanent and can shift as businesses scale or face imitation.
- D2C brands often win initial PMF via counter-positioning but must build other moats to sustain growth.
Add Qualitative Inputs To AOP
- Include qualitative inputs in your AOP, not just financial numbers.
- Clarify the core inputs and desired moat vector before freezing capital allocation.
