GFL 149: Capture the Category: How to Dominate Consumers’ Minds and Market Share

As a kid, you probably played Capture the Flag. Adults in the business world play it too—albeit a different version that we can call Capture the Category. It’s no secret that companies that can best identify a problem, convince people they need to solve it—then create the optimal solution—often become the pre-eminent player, aka the Category King. But the path to category creation and dominance is neither quick nor easy, and it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. I had a fascinating conversation with Kevin Maney on the latest Go For Launch podcast. Kevin is the co-author of Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets, which has sold more than 100,000 copies globally. He’s a journalist who has been covering technology and society for 30 years. Kevin is a partner at Category Design Advisors, where he and his team have helped more than 50 companies discover, define and chart a course to dominate new markets. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the art and science of “playing bigger” by defining and dominating their category. In our conversation, Kevin lays out the highlights of what it will take to become a business icon in your own right.