"I thought more effort meant more progress. I was wrong." The 10X Mindset Shift Every Entrepreneur Needs

Priscilla Shumba
7 minutes ago
5 min read

I was working hard, really HARD... and the progress was incremental but soooo SLOW.

To try and speed things up, I figured I'd work hardER and get a little more progress. So I did, and a little more progress I got. The only problem is, it was just enough to create fleeting excitement.

After some time, burnout was starting to set in. That lingering feeling of "Is this even worth it?"

I was one foot into "I'm so over this" , and had the other foot shaky, but standing on purpose.

That's when that quiet wind blew (Christian entrepreneurs IYKYK). It hit me, my answer was in "That book!" I scrambled on my phone to find the screenshot of the title: 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. The rest... is just another #LessonOfEntrepreneurship

Here's the rewiring I learnt from this phenomenal book:

Undertake Only Ambitious Projects In Your Business

To drastically change your situation in a way that will bring enduring excitement, leaps in progress, and mastery = the fuel for passion; there has to be an ambitious leap on your part.

In essence, doing more of what I was doing in an effort to 2X wasn't it. I needed a 10X project.

What is 10X?

10X ironically isn't about doing more; it's about taking a completely different approach.

Think of it this way: If you 10X your goal? For example, instead of making $10,000/month, you want to make $100,000/month (That's 10X your revenue goal). Then the pivotal question is: Will doing more of what you're doing get you to that 10X goal? The truth, probably not. So, we don't need to do more. We need to do something completely different.

The authors Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan spell it out: INNOVATION

This word scares many, as we often think of Elon Musk or Albert Einstein, when we should consider it in our business context. What can we do that's new, fresh, and different that will multiply our value in the marketplace? And who will value that the MOST?

🎯 What ambitious project will deliver a 10X result?

How does a 10X goal lead us to do less?

10X is a process of making things simple and focused.

We start by looking at what we're doing that's getting us the majority of our tangible results. The big results drivers. Not the things that feel like they're about to create results. We're not in our feels on this one. Pareto's Principle: 80% of our results come from 20% of our effort.

We use our data to identify that 20% and literally (are you ready for this?... take a gulp...) remove everything else from your to-do list.

Automatically, a whole lot of tiny actions that produce tiny increments don't fit the bill. They've got to go! A.k.a. Busyness activities flushed down the toilet.

Leaving your calendar bare. 80% of free time!

(😰- I know)

Tip: It is hard to let go of doing a whole bunch of things, but if we don't create space to go after 10X growth, we'll never achieve it. Ask yourself: If I keep doing exactly what I've been doing, where will I be in 3 or 5 years? Does that destination excite you?

NOW that there's space to innovate in a big way, it's time to play a new game.

Reverse engineering 10X growth

To achieve our 10X goal, what must be true?

For example, A leap in earnings/revenue. Practicalities: To charge more, I need to build a brand that commands that new level of pricing. Reality: $250 services aren't going to get me to $100,000/month. The mammoth task is to build a premium brand in that niche. The target has been identified.

Now we're cooking!!! Are you catching a whiff of this barbecue (braai IYKYK).

It's a whole new mindset.

"2X is brutal force. 10X is a process of transformation that frees you, BUT It requires COURAGE."

I don't know about you, but I want to have some finesse in how I do business. And that comes with a price: COURAGE.

🎯 Choose to do hard things.

Words repeated over and over in the Bible. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

To walk in purpose and realise destiny, one has to call forth the courage within to trample fear and engage in their battle.

Identity shift

The authors quote Marth Beck, "How you do anything is how you do everything."

The target demands that we raise our standards. We have to become the type of person who gets the business we're after.

Where do we start?

Of the 20% we're keeping, don't do more, do better. In most cases, this comes down to preparation. Do more research on the market and competition, do a deeper dive into that client before pitching, find ways create more value for your clients... The authors say, "Think qualitative, not quantitative."

Professional athletes undergo intense training (preparation/doing the thing) for 4 years to run a 200-meter race at the Olympics. The authors discuss the careers of various entertainers, actors, musicians, and others. The lesson we as entrepreneurs can learn from them: They spend the majority of their time in preparation and a fleeting moment in performance. That's why they're paid the big bucks! The value is apparent.

Warren Buffett is famous for his extensive reading habits, stating he spends as much as 80% of his day reading and thinking, which he emphasises as a key to success in his investment career.

Takeways

I started this journey working hardER and HARDER, chasing progress and sometimes wondering, “Is this even worth it?” The harsh reality is that more effort doesn’t equal more results. We're all working hard. Transformation demands a leap of faith. Dare to do something BIG. Make your 10X leap, and then many more after that.

Entrepreneurship isn’t about busyness. It’s about being courageous. Becoming the person who can carry the vision God placed inside you by faith.

So here’s the question I leave you with:🎯 Will you keep grinding for 2X, or will you dare to step into 10X?

📌Get your copy of 10X Is Easier Than 2X

Because the rest… is another #LessonOfEntrepreneurship.

Blessings,