Negotiate Anything
Negotiate Anything
Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.
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Stop Playing Nice: Make an Enemy, Build a Brand
52 minutes Posted Aug 14, 2025 at 9:00 am.
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Be nice, be invisible—brand leaders pick a strategic enemy and own the category.
⁠Buy the book The Strategic Enemy - How To Build & Position a Brand Worth Fighting For. By Laura Ries⁠
In this episode, branding strategist Laura Ries (daughter of positioning pioneer Al Ries) breaks down why playing it safe kills momentum, how to define a category you can own, and how the psychology of contrast turns brands into movements. We dig into visual hammers, multi-brand vs. line extensions, and the bold decision to say no so a brand can finally say something.
You’ll learn:
What a strategic enemy is (and isn’t)—and why it supercharges word-of-mouth
How to choose the right category first, then dominate it with brand
The role of a visual hammer (icon, color, shape) in instant recognition
Why line extensions backfire—and when a new brand is the winning move
How personal branding uses the same rules (signature look, ruthless focus)
Why advertising should reinforce, not introduce, a positioning
Connect with Laura
Buy the book The Strategic Enemy - How To Build & Position a Brand Worth Fighting For. By Laura Ries
Laura Ries Website
Contact ANI
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