Octopus Competitive Intelligence

Strategic Advantage and AI: Why Independent Thinking Beats the Hype: Weekly Winning Strategies AI and other new technologies aren’t a cult. You don’t have to follow them blindly. Don’t just take what you’re told at face value. Received wisdom is often the laziest form of insight. It’s just what’s been accepted as “right” because everyone else thinks so. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for you and your business, market, or strategy today. It’s your strategic advantage and AI. Stop and ask: Really? Why? What if? This is vital in a world of algorithm-driven social media platforms. These platforms push curated narratives on what to think and how the market moves. Are you taking your competitive cues from the same channels as everyone else? Then, you are not thinking independently. You’re letting bias dictate your next move. Take AI as an example. It’s undeniably transformative, yes. But don’t fall into the trap of blindly following the trend. Just because someone completed a 5-hour crash ...

  “Why” is the most important word you’ll ever use. In Hegarty on Creativity , John Hegarty highlights a fundamental truth: creativity thrives on asking, “Why?” It’s not just about producing something new but understanding the root of problems and continually challenging assumptions. This applies directly to competitive intelligence and market analysis. So why competitive intelligence and creativity? It’s the assumptions that get you Why? Because in competitive intelligence, the most dangerous mistake is taking things at face value. Competitors’ actions, market trends, or consumer behaviour seem to have a clear, logical explanation. But stop there, and you’ll miss what really matters. Surface-level analysis leads to surface-level results. The key is to keep asking the critical question: Why? Asking the critical question Why is your competitor shifting to a new market segment? Why are they dropping prices despite economic pressure? Why did a trend that should have fizzled out take o...

When it comes to analysing competitors or markets, transitions are critical. Competitor analysis is all about Transitions. Think of the market as a living ecosystem. It’s not static. It’s constantly changing, shaped by external pressures, emerging trends, and shifting consumer behaviours. You’re already behind if you’re focused solely on what the competition is doing today. The real insight comes from understanding where the market is going—those transitions between  what is  and  what will be . In competitor analysis, looking at current market leaders and following their playbook is tempting. However, the mistake many companies make is ignoring the subtle environmental shifts. The early signals that indicate a competitor’s next move or even the industry’s next evolution. You have the advantage if you can identify these transitional moments before anyone else. An example of why competitor analysis is all about Transitions. Think about how Blockbuster was on top of the wor...

How Competitive Intelligence Reveals What Everyone Misses: Unlocking Hidden Solutions. Weekly Winning Strategies The answer to your biggest problem is staring you in the face. But without taking time to step back and think, you’re not going to see it. Too many entrepreneurs, enterprises, and solopreneurs rely on surface-level answers. A dangerous trap They rush to their phones, Google, or tap into OpenAI. They are expecting quick solutions to complex challenges. This week’s weekly winning strategy series asks how competitive intelligence reveals what everyone misses. The problem is, if those tools do give you an answer, it’s the same answer everyone else has. And if your strategy is based on the same insights your competitors can access, you’re not really gaining an edge. You’re just keeping pace. And that’s if you know what competitors, or more to the point, the people in these companies are up to. How they think and what they want to do. Real insight often comes from looking deeper i...