3 things people get wrong about growth

Author

Mustapha Mushi
December 18, 2023

Hey friend,

Yesterday I shared how I wasted five days of my life and what I could have done differently in that situation.

Today, I'm going to share a growth framework with you.

Many people get these three things about growth wrong:

•They seek a magical solution (hoping for a silver bullet to fix all their problems).

• Engage in grand, attention-grabbing efforts, such as securing press coverage or influencer mentions.

• Struggle to prioritize and rank various growth ideas effectively.

Let’s break them down:

1. No silver bullets

Remember, there's no magic fix for everything. Instead of chasing silver bullets, focus on firing lead bullets – small wins that accumulate over time.

With the mindset I have imbibed, I only focus on firing lots of lead bullets, which are small wins that add up and compound over time.

This mindset is important because it keeps your expectations in check.

If your expectations are bigger than your reality, you’ll have negative happiness.

That's why managing expectations is key; as I always say, Happiness = Reality - Expectations.

So, embrace the idea that growth often comes from numerous experiments and incremental improvements.

2. Skip the flashy stuff

Flashy events like press coverage or influencer shoutouts might seem tempting, but sustainability is the goal.

Building a growth engine means avoiding one-off spikes and prioritizing consistent, everyday progress.

Imagine getting a mention in Forbes, a shout-out from an influencer or having a growth engine that continually hums, which is more impactful? The one event fame or the consistent growth?

I'll take a 5% improvement in a signup flow than a fleeting moment of fame any day, any time.

3. Rank your growth ideas

When brainstorming growth ideas, create a simple excel sheet. Prioritize ideas based on Impact, Cost, and Likelihood of success.

Steer clear of overcomplicating things – a straightforward approach can be surprisingly effective.

Remember, hitting singles consistently builds momentum, which leads to more significant achievements.

Putting it into practice

Use a growth experiment board to track your initiatives. Score each idea based on Impact, Cost, and Likelihood of success. This not only helps in decision-making but also fosters clear communication with your team. Don't forget to document each experiment, as this sharpens your growth instincts over time.

Until next time,

— Mustapha Mushi

 

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