What is the difference between a benefit and a power?

A benefit improves cash flow, but a Power requires both a benefit and a barrier that prevents competitors from copying or neutralizing that benefit.

Can I use this for early-stage startups?

Yes, the framework specifically identifies powers like Counter-positioning and Cornered Resources that are uniquely available during the Origination phase of a business.

Is this skill compatible with other strategy frameworks?

Yes, it complements frameworks like Blue Ocean Strategy and Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by providing a specific diagnostic for what actually creates durable advantage.

How does this skill help with product development?

It helps prioritize features that create actual competitive barriers, such as network effects or switching costs, rather than just easily-copied product benefits.

7 Powers Strategic Framework

Name: 7 Powers Strategic Framework
Author: lev-os

bylev-os

0•

Productivity & Workflow

Applies Hamilton Helmer's strategic framework to identify and build durable competitive advantages for businesses and products.

The 7 Powers skill provides a rigorous methodology for identifying sustainable competitive advantage by analyzing the intersection of economic benefits and competitive barriers. It guides users through a diagnostic process to evaluate Scale Economics, Network Economics, Counter-positioning, Switching Costs, Branding, Cornered Resources, and Process Power. By mapping these powers to specific business lifecycle phases—Origination, Takeoff, and Stability—the skill helps practitioners determine which strategic moves to prioritize to create long-term defensibility. It is particularly useful for product managers, founders, and investors who need to distinguish between temporary market advantages and durable value creation.

Key Features

010 GitHub stars

02Comparative analysis tools for benchmarking against incumbent business models

03Lifecycle-aware strategic diagnostic for Origination, Takeoff, and Stability phases

04Systematic evaluation of the seven distinct power types and their required barriers

05Anti-pattern detection to prevent confusing temporary features with durable power

06Identification of 'Benefit + Barrier' equations to ensure long-term defensibility

Use Cases

01Evaluating a startup's potential for long-term defensibility against industry incumbents

02Analyzing investment opportunities to determine the strength of a company's competitive moat

03Prioritizing product roadmap items that build switching costs or network effects

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add lev-os/agents 7-powers

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill