--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the first company to build the…" description: "\"It's the first company to build the mental position that has the upper hand, not the first company to make the product. IBM didn't invent the computer;..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/al-ries-14351_business_it-s-the-first-company-to-build-the-ment_1318586.jpg" --- # It's the first company to build the mental position that… ![“It's the first company to build the mental position that has the upper hand, not the first company to make the product. IBM didn't invent the computer; Sperry Rand did. But IBM was the first to build the computer position in the prospect's mind.” quote by Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/al-ries-14351_business_it-s-the-first-company-to-build-the-ment_1318586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/al-ries-14351_business_it-s-the-first-company-to-build-the-ment_1318586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/al-ries-14351_business_it-s-the-first-company-to-build-the-ment_1318586.jpg) > “It's the first company to build the mental position that has the upper hand, not the first company to make the product. IBM didn't invent the computer; Sperry Rand did. But IBM was the first to build the computer position in the prospect's mind.” [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from owning a mental space in consumers’ minds, not just from product features. **In simple terms:** Mindshare beats product alone. Key Takeaway Focus on perception, not only product. Themes marketing strategy perception Mood analytical strategic Type business marketing When to use this quote - new product launch - rebranding - competitive analysis Key Concepts brand positioning mental models Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect a mental advantage? - What happens when perception and product diverge? A Different Perspective Mind positioning can be fragile without real value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Upper hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upper-hand/) ## Related quotes > [Did you really invent the computer, or am I being pranked right now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/did-you-really-invent-the-computer-or-am-i-being-pranked-right-now/) [Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/) > [If you identify with a mental position, then if you are wrong, your mind-based sense of self is seriously threatened with annihilation. 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