Ever feel like the market is just screaming at you? It’s loud. It’s messy. And honestly, most companies are just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. But then there’s that shift. You’ve seen it. That moment when a brand stops asking for permission and just starts occupying space. We are taking over isn’t just a catchy phrase for a hype video anymore; it’s a literal description of how market share is being consolidated in the post-AI economy.
Markets don't just "evolve" anymore. They get colonized.
Look at how NVIDIA handled the hardware transition. They didn't just sell chips; they built an entire ecosystem that made it impossible to build without them. That's the vibe. It’s aggressive, sure, but it’s also the only way to survive when every niche is being disrupted by a new algorithm every Tuesday. If you aren't actively thinking about how we are taking over your specific vertical, you’re basically just waiting for someone else to turn off the lights.
The psychology of the aggressive pivot
Why does this matter right now? Because passive growth is dead.
In the old days—like, five years ago—you could "scale" organically. You’d hire a sales team, run some Google ads, and hope for a 10% year-over-year bump. Now? That’s a death sentence. The companies winning right now are using a "total-capture" mindset. It’s about speed. It’s about making your service the default setting.
Take a look at the fintech sector. Companies like Revolut or Wise didn't just offer a better exchange rate. They moved into insurance, crypto, business banking, and lifestyle rewards. They became the "we are taking over" case study for 2026 by making themselves inescapable. They realized that if they didn't own the whole wallet, they didn't own the customer.
It’s kinda scary, isn't it?
But here’s the thing: customers actually love it when it’s done right. We crave less friction. If one app does everything, we use that app. If one consultant solves five problems instead of one, we hire that consultant. The "taking over" aspect is really just about reducing the cognitive load for your clients.
Speed as a defensive moat
You’ve probably heard people talk about "first-mover advantage." That’s old school. The new school is "first-integrator advantage."
Speed isn't just about moving fast; it’s about moving fast enough to set the standards that everyone else has to follow. When we talk about we are taking over a market, we’re talking about creating the rules of the game while others are still trying to read the instructions.
- Iterate in public.
- Don't wait for a "final" version—it doesn't exist.
- Ship the feature, break the industry standard, then fix the bugs while you're sitting on the throne.
Wait, I know what you’re thinking. "Isn't that risky?"
Of course it is. It’s terrifying. But the alternative is being a footnote in a Wikipedia article about "Disrupted Industries of the 2020s."
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The "We Are Taking Over" Framework
There isn't a 10-step plan. Life isn't a textbook. But there are three pillars that seem to hold up every successful market takeover I've analyzed over the last eighteen months.
First, you have to find the "bottleneck" of your industry. What is the one thing that everyone hates doing? In the creative world, it was boring, repetitive administrative work. Adobe didn't just add AI; they integrated Firefly so deeply into the workflow that "taking over" the creative process became a reality. They didn't ask you to go to a new site; they stayed where you already were.
Second, you need radical transparency. People don't trust faceless corporations anymore. They trust people who say, "Hey, we are taking over this space because the current options suck, and here is exactly how we’re going to do it better."
Third—and this is the big one—you need to be comfortable with being the villain for a little while. Competitors will hate you. They’ll call you "monopolistic" or "too aggressive." Let them. While they’re complaining to trade journals, you’re busy onboarding their former clients.
Why the "slow and steady" mantra is a lie
We’ve been fed this idea that "slow and steady wins the race." Maybe for turtles. Not for businesses in 2026.
The internet has removed the barriers to entry, which means there’s a constant stream of competitors nipping at your heels. If you move slowly, you’re just a target. When you adopt the we are taking over mindset, you move from being the prey to being the predator.
I was talking to a SaaS founder last month who was obsessed with "perfecting the product." He’d spent two years in stealth mode. Meanwhile, a competitor launched a "good enough" version, marketed it like crazy, and captured 40% of the niche. By the time the first guy launched his "perfect" product, nobody cared. The market was already taken.
It’s about momentum. Momentum is the only thing that protects you from the noise.
Real-world evidence: The shift in 2025-2026
If you look at the recent earnings calls from the big players, the language has shifted. They aren't talking about "market participation" anymore. They’re talking about "dominance."
- Meta’s push into integrated AR wasn't a side project; it was a bid to take over the physical interface of the internet.
- Tesla’s energy grid expansion isn't about cars; it’s about taking over the utility sector.
- Even small-scale influencers are doing this by launching "vertical" brands that replace traditional retail.
These aren't coincidences. It’s a collective realization that "middle ground" is the most dangerous place to be. You’re either the one taking over, or you’re the one being taken over.
Does this apply to small businesses?
Absolutely. You don't need a billion dollars to have this mindset.
If you’re a local plumber, you "take over" by being the only one who uses real-time tracking, automated scheduling, and a subscription model for home maintenance. You make it so your neighbors wouldn't even dream of calling anyone else. You become the default. That is what we are taking over looks like on a local level.
Handling the backlash
There’s always a pushback. When you start winning, people get nervous. Regulators start looking at your books. Twitter (or whatever we’re calling it this week) starts a thread about your "unethical" growth.
Here is the secret: Success is the best PR.
As long as you are actually providing value—actually making life easier or better for your customers—the noise eventually fades. The "we are taking over" strategy only fails when it’s built on hype without substance. If you’re just loud but your product is garbage, you aren't taking over; you’re just annoying.
Practical steps to start your takeover
Stop looking at what your competitors are doing. If you're looking at them, you’re following them.
Instead, look at where they are failing their customers. Where is the friction? Where is the boredom? Where is the unnecessary cost? That’s your entry point.
- Audit your current market position. Are you a "choice" or a "habit"? If you're just a choice, you're vulnerable. Start building features or services that turn you into a habit.
- Aggressively cut the fluff. Most businesses have 20% of activities that drive 80% of results. Kill the other 80%. Use those resources to double down on your "takeover" strength.
- Change your messaging. Stop saying you’re "one of the leading..." No. Say you are the solution. Use bold, definitive language. People follow leaders, not "participants."
- Invest in "ecosystem" thinking. How can you surround your customer so they never have to leave your brand for a related service?
The world doesn't need more "pretty good" businesses. It needs leaders who are willing to step up and say we are taking over because the current standard is no longer acceptable.
It's about having the guts to be the best and the speed to make sure everyone knows it.
Start by identifying the one area of your industry that is currently stagnant. That’s your territory. Go get it. Map out the next six months not as a "growth phase" but as a campaign for total category relevance. If you don't feel a little bit uncomfortable with how fast you're moving, you're probably already falling behind.