Play Bigger: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Play Bigger containing key details about the book.
What is Play Bigger About?
Play Bigger is a book that provides a framework and practical advice for companies to create and dominate a new category of products or services, and become the definitive leader in their industry through a process called "category design".
In Play Bigger, the authors assemble their findings to introduce the new discipline of category design. By applying category design, companies can create new demand where none existed, conditioning customers’ brains so they change their expectations and buying habits. While this discipline defines the tech industry, it applies to every kind of industry and even to personal careers.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Play Bigger
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* Category design is the key to creating and dominating new markets. Companies that successfully create new categories are the ones that define the problem, set the standards, and establish the rules for the market.
* To become a category king, you need to create a new category or redefine an existing one, develop a compelling point of view, and build a community of like-minded people who share your point of view.
* Category design requires a new mindset, one that is focused on creating a new future rather than just improving on the past. It requires a willingness to challenge the status quo, take risks, and embrace radical ideas.
* A new category is not just a new product or service, but a new language, a new set of values, and a new way of thinking. It requires a deep understanding of the customer's needs, desires, and aspirations, and the ability to create a new narrative that speaks to those needs.
* Category design is a team sport that requires cross-functional collaboration, a shared vision, and a relentless focus on the customer. It requires a diverse team with different perspectives and skills, and a culture that values creativity, experimentation, and learning.
* To succeed in category design, you need to build a company that is obsessed with innovation, customer experience, and continuous improvement. You need to be agile, adaptable, and willing to pivot when necessary.
* Finally, becoming a category king is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of innovation, reinvention, and renewal. You need to constantly monitor the market, stay ahead of the competition, and be willing to disrupt your own business model when necessary.
Who is the author of Play Bigger?
Al Ramadan is a co-founding partner at Play Bigger Advisors. He has been a CEO, entrepreneur, operating executive and sailing technologist.
David Joshua Peterson is an American conlanger, writer, and artist, who has constructed languages for television series such as Game of Thrones and The 100 and movies such as Thor: The Dark World and Dune.
Kevin Maney is a bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He has been writing about technology for 30 years, has interviewed most of the tech pioneers you can name, and brings broad and deep context to Category Design conversations.
What are good quotes from Play Bigger?
“The failures are a feature, not a bug.”
“Whether you’re a tiny start-up seeking angel money, a growing company going for a B round, or an IPO candidate, a POV will be the best investor relations tool you’ll ever have.”
“The story about your business is more important than the facts about your business. Sound outrageous? Maybe, but the brain research proves it’s true. People relate to and remember stories—even people who make a living analyzing facts.”
“Some of the great category kings have been built during some of the “worst” times—Google in the early 2000s right after the dot-com crash; Airbnb in 2008 as financial markets melted; Birds Eye amid the Great Depression.6”
“An advantage of publishing the category blueprint is that it seeds dread among would-be competitors, who look at the blueprint and think you’ve already put the whole thing in motion.”
“In any category of product or service, one entity gets to be the big and valuable dog, while all the rest wind up in the economically challenging tail.”
“avoiding the risk of the experimental software fucking up everything else on the machine.”
“Winning companies today market the problem, not just the solution.”
Book details
- Print length: 272 Pages
- Genre: Business, Entrepreneurship, Nonfiction
What are the chapters in Play Bigger?
Chapter 1: Creation Wins
Chapter 2: Category Is the New Strategy
Chapter 3: The Discipline of Category Design
Chapter 4: Start: How to Discover a Category
Chapter 5: Strategy: The Power of a Point of View
Chapter 6: Mobilization: The Shit Gets Real Chapter
Chapter 7: Marketing: Conditioning the Market to Welcome YOur Pirate Invasion
Chapter 8: The Flywheel: Form Category King to Legendary King
Chapter 9: The Corporate Chapter: The Rare Art of Continuous Category Creation
Chapter 10: How You Can Play Bigger
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “Play Bigger is the new how-to guide for entrepreneurs and executives who want to build legendary, enduring companies.” — Jim Goetz, Partner, Sequoia Capital
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal growth, you may want to explore my list of favorite self-improvement books. These books, which have had a significant impact on my life, are carefully curated and come with summaries and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
