What I Learned About People that Scale

What I Learned About People that Scale

Reinventing your core beliefs, picking the right role models, being authentic, and listening to your feelings are key factors in successfully scaling. When it comes to scaling, lack of will is not the issue. Everyone puts in their best effort to keep up with the demands of a startup. However, experience alone is not enough to guarantee success. It's not about how many times you've done a job before, but rather how many times you've had to change yourself to adapt and thrive in new situations.

It's interesting to ponder why change is so challenging. The moment we stop paying close attention to our actions, we tend to go into auto-pilot mode. But there's a better way to change our actions – by changing the belief system that generates them. Reinventing our core beliefs is the silver bullet of scaling. However, it does come with a certain level of grief. We have to let go of a part of ourselves to make room for new beliefs. It's akin to moving from a local maximum to a global maximum, and it can be a painful process. But once we accept the necessary death and move through the grief period, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and a new version of ourselves that is ready to scale.

When it comes to becoming a better leader, surrounding ourselves with good leaders and learning from them is often the advice we receive. While it may be frustrating, learning from those who excel in their leadership roles is the safest path to improvement. Reading books can only take us so far – we need to feel what it means to be a great leader in order to develop our own sense of what greatness looks like. Role models play an important role in this process, but it's crucial to identify the right role models for our specific domain. Learning what to learn from whom is key.

Authenticity is another crucial aspect of leadership. People want to know who you truly are – your quirks, passions, and personal style. It's important not to hide these aspects of yourself but rather to put them at the forefront. For example, for me, writing became a more authentic communication method. It led me to start writing weekly emails and essays, which became an integral part of how I lead. Great leaders excel in written communication, and embracing our authentic communication style can have a significant impact on our leadership journey.

Vulnerability is a powerful tool for authenticity. By sharing our struggles and challenges, we demonstrate authenticity and build trust. Each person is going through their own unique journey, and when we share where we are on ours, it becomes remarkably authentic. People can sense the honesty and authenticity in our words, even when we don't explicitly state it. So, dismissing our intuition and ignoring our feelings is a mistake. Our intuition provides valuable data, especially when we're faced with difficult decisions that lack clear answers. If something feels right, even if we can't explain it, we should trust our instincts.

Ultimately, the biggest leap of faith we can take is having faith in ourselves. Scaling is not about having done the job before; it's about embracing the unknown and having confidence in our abilities. It's natural for things to go wrong, and we may feel like failures at times. But we shouldn't let that discourage us from scaling. The truth is, successful startups are built by individuals who haven't done it before either. The struggles we face shape us and make us stronger. So, despite the challenges, we should embrace the journey of scaling and cherish every moment of accomplishing things we once thought were impossible. These are the moments that will stay with us forever.

Actionable advice:

1. Embrace change and reinvent your core beliefs: Scaling requires a willingness to evolve and adapt. Take the necessary time to reflect on your beliefs and be open to reinventing them to align with your scaling goals.

2. Choose your role models wisely: Surround yourself with leaders who excel in your specific domain and learn from them. Observe their actions and behaviors to develop your own sense of what great leadership looks like.

3. Embrace authenticity and vulnerability: Be true to yourself and let your quirks, passions, and personal style shine through. Share your struggles and challenges to build trust and authenticity with your team.

In conclusion, scaling is not just about willpower or experience. It requires a willingness to change, reinvent core beliefs, and learn from the right role models. Authenticity and vulnerability play a significant role in effective leadership, and listening to our intuition is crucial. Having faith in ourselves and embracing the challenges of scaling are key to success. So, let us embark on the scaling journey with confidence and cherish every moment of growth and accomplishment.