Mindsets That Matter: 10x Goals

Read time: 4 minutes.

Hi 👋

Welcome to Build Things That Matter, where you will receive weekly tips on developing the mindsets, systems, and skills that matter to build a thriving, impact-driven business.

Today, you’ll get the #1 way to drive more than double the growth in your business (or life) without doubling the effort.

Some conversations completely change the trajectory of your life.

I remember this one vividly.

Tobi Lutke, the Founder of Shopify, had just joined my Board of Directors, and I was presenting our strategic vision for the organization to the entire Board.

I’ve always been one to set big, lofty goals, or so I thought, and I was excited to share our vision to more than double our reach—from 100,000 learners to 200,000 learners in a couple years' time.

Given that we were only a handful of years old and people still thought #LadiesLearningCode was the equivalent of the “bro code”—not a way to build things with technology—it felt very bold.

In that meeting, Tobi asked: “What would it take to 10x or 20x that goal? One million or even 10 million learners?”

In the moment, it felt completely impossible. I couldn’t even imagine doing more than twice the work we were already doing - more than double the hours, more than double the workshops, more than double….everything.

No way.

Then, a few months later, we set a North Star goal to create 10 million learning experiences—way way more than double.

A few years after that, we actually delivered our one millionth learning experience to people in Canada. Far surpassing my “big” goal of 200,000 years before I ever thought we could.

How? What changed between that question and our big results?

It’s actually simple.

10x is easier than 2x.

Now, don't get me wrong. It took a lot of passion and effort by lots and lots of great team, collaborators and partners to scale and run our business (whom I’m so thankful for and in awe of daily).

But, I truly believe the 10x goal completely changed the trajectory of our business - and the results in a really profound way.

Since my own experience, there’s been a great book written on the whole concept by a decades-long experienced coach Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy called 10x is Easier Than 2x (it’s a must-read).

WHY IT WORKS

10x goals work because they force you to think differently.

If you just aim to double your goal, it's tempting to just double everything you’re doing right now. Double the hours, double the effort and hope for double the results.

It’s actually really really hard to do that successfully.

10x goals leave you no choice but to do things really differently. They demand innovation, creativity, and a radical departure from the status quo.

This shift in mindset opens up new possibilities and pathways to success that you might have overlooked otherwise.

In my experience, when our goals were 2x, I only really thought to do twice as much of all the things we were already doing.

Our 10x goal opened us up to new ideas for scale like partnerships, content strategies, and more—things we would have never even considered because they weren’t necessary to help us reach our 2x goal.

To go 10x required a whole new way of thinking and doing. Plus, to scale, we had to be more ruthless in our efforts, what we focused on, what we prioritized and go all in.

Inspired by my experience and the book, here’s a simple yet effective three-step process to set and achieve 10x goals:

THE MINDSET

1. Set Your 10x Goal: Think about what success looks like - no constraints. Clearly define what achieving 10x would look like in your business (or personal life).

2. Figure Out Your 80/20: Determine the core activities and strategies that will drive the most significant results towards your goals (the 20% of the effort that drives 80% of the results). This is where you need to really dive in and uncover it for yourself - or perhaps work with mentors or a coach to help. It could be focusing on the things you’re the best at, focusing on business lines that are most lucrative and letting go of the rest or blue-sky new ideas you haven’t even explored yet.

3. Go All-In: Going 10x means focusing solely on those high ROI 20% inputs and eliminating or delegating all the rest. And, it’s not just tasks either but also any limiting beliefs or energy-draining relationships that would help you 10x too. Regularly review your progress, adapt your strategies as needed and be relentless in pushing beyond your own limitations to reach for 10x.

The 10x mindset encourages a strategic approach to growth, emphasizing quality over quantity and ensuring that every action you take moves you closer to your goal.

And, it works.

What does 10x look like for you? I can’t wait to see you find out!

Until next week, let’s keep building together 🫶🚀

Mel

P. S. Building things is hard, and we need more people to do it. If you enjoyed this newsletter, consider forwarding it to a friend. Thanks in advance!

If you’re looking for more bite-sized weekly tips, you can follow me on LinkedIn.

If you want to dive deeper, you can work with me for 1:1 coaching.

Forwarded this message? Sign up here.