Defining your business “cheetah advantage” means identifying what makes you uniquely fast, sharp, or unbeatable in the marketplace, and then putting all your focus into amplifying that edge. Here’s a step-by-step framework you can use:
🔎 Step 1: Identify Your “Unmatched Strength”
Just like no animal can beat the cheetah at speed, your business must discover the one thing you do better than anyone else. This could be:
-
Speed to market (launching new products faster than competitors)
-
Customer intimacy (deep trust and relationships that others can’t replicate)
-
Cost efficiency (delivering more value for less)
-
Innovation edge (offering features or services no one else has yet)
👉 Ask: What do customers always praise us for? What do competitors struggle to copy?
🎯 Step 2: Measure It
Strength without proof is just a story. Define clear metrics for your advantage:
-
If it’s speed, measure delivery times or time-to-market.
-
If it’s cost efficiency, track margins and pricing advantage.
-
If it’s customer intimacy, measure retention, referrals, or NPS.
👉 Ask: How do we show evidence that we are the “fastest” or “best” in our lane?
🚀 Step 3: Align Resources Behind It
Cheetahs don’t waste energy chasing every antelope—they reserve it for the best opportunity. Similarly, channel your resources into strengthening and showcasing your edge.
-
Invest more in the tech, processes, or people that amplify your advantage.
-
Drop or outsource areas that distract you from your core speed/strength.
👉 Ask: Are we spreading ourselves too thin, or doubling down where we win?
🌀 Step 4: Build Agility Around It
A cheetah’s speed works because it’s matched with agility. Your advantage should also allow for quick pivots:
-
If your edge is innovation, have a system to test and release fast.
-
If it’s customer intimacy, stay flexible to evolving customer needs.
👉 Ask: How can we keep evolving so our edge stays sharp, not dull?
📢 Step 5: Own the Story
Once you know your advantage, make it part of your brand narrative. Just as everyone knows the cheetah is the fastest animal, people should instantly associate your brand with your advantage.
-
Reinforce it in your marketing (“fastest, easiest, smartest”).
-
Use customer proof and stories to validate it.
-
Train your team to communicate it in every pitch.
👉 Ask: If someone describes us in one sentence, does it highlight our cheetah edge?
✨ Final Thought:
Your “cheetah advantage” is not about doing everything well—it’s about doing one thing unbeatably well. Once defined, protect it, amplify it, and let it shape your strategy. Businesses that try to be lions, pronghorns, and cheetahs at the same time usually get eaten.