But as I put the hours into this varied work, a structure began to form, slowly at first but also inexorably toward a defining central idea. Namely, that a brand builds a creative advantage through the fostering of a strong culture of creativity which leads to the consistent ability to construct powerful emotional bonds with its consumers.

Brand positioning boils down to one thing: Differentiation. And one way to be different is by aligning with a unique set of values. AND1 did this, aligning with the values of streetball: attitude and creativity. Nike, meanwhile, aligned with elitism and rigidity.