Prelude: Scaling Your Company Is NOT a Sideline Strategy
If you are the Founder / CEO of a business venture and obsessed with scaling your Company, this is your zero hour. Forget the happy talkers and the jargon jugglers; let’s get real with an actionable game plan. Chances are you have heard of Jim Collins’ groundbreaking framework, 'A Culture of Discipline.' If you have not, I strongly recommend this be moved to the top of your reading list. Include Jim Collins' timeless book Good to Great as well.
Creating a Culture of Discipline is not just another ivory tower concept; this is the very "rocket fuel" your scaling strategy has been waiting for. You just need to choose carefully.
Buckle up. Every second counts.
Ignition Point 1: What Is a Culture of Discipline?
A true culture of Discipline will help propel your business to an entirely higher level. Imagine your business operating such that entrepreneurial agility merges with clockwork precision. It is a duality; a culture that encourages innovation yet demands accountability. Think Navy SEALs meet Silicon Valley.
Following is an excerpt from Jim Collin's 'A Culture of Discipline'. - Embrace the mindset of... Disciplined People - Disciplined Thought - Disciplined Action. Rinse and repeat.
Ignition Point 2: The Crucial Interlink between Discipline and Scaling
Pause. Scaling without discipline is like trying to launch a rocket with fireworks —the sparks and colors may be beautifully spectacular but are definitely short-lived. You need a disciplined ecosystem that interconnects like a neural network, keeping your scaling both dynamic and balanced. The message is clear: adapt or become irrelevant.
High-Octane Tactics: Ignite Your Discipline
Ignition Point 3: Get the right people doing the right things right.
Jim Collins is famous for advocating - "get the right people on the bus" (Good to Great). While Collins' words are sage, I fervently believe Verne Harnish takes Collins' important concept a large step further - Get the right people doing the right things right - Mastering the Rockefeller Habits.
Ignition Point 4: Vision That Does Not Blur
There are no shortcuts here. Every single person in your team and organization must know the ins and outs of your mission, target personas, and game plan. We are talking about an unwavering line of sight that connects every single team member to the expected end-game.
Ignition Point 5: The Accountability-Empowerment Paradox
You need leaders, not passengers. But remember, autonomy is not a free pass. In a culture of discipline, empowerment is the gas pedal, and accountability is the brake and guardrails. This dual mechanism is non-negotiable. Are your people truly prepared for this?
Ignition Point 6: Rituals That Are Not Rote
Routine, when done correctly, is not your enemy—routine is your secret weapon. Inject carefully chosen, deliberate routines that foster discipline. Carefully chosen, deliberate routines are your internal algorithms, the gears that keep your clock ticking.
Ignition Point 7: Leadership as the Meta-Discipline
Who sets the tone?
In short - you set the tone. That is right. You. What you do - what you do not do... What you say - do not say... Your actions, your demeanor, your commitment—it is the live wire that electrifies your culture. Make discipline your personal brand before you make it your company's. All problems start at the head. You set the tone.
Detonation Alert: Ignore Discipline at Your Own Peril
Be warned: Neglect discipline and brace yourself for a cascade of random successes and failures, not just on spreadsheets but in the very DNA of your organization. I am talking top talent drain, financial hemorrhage, and missed opportunities. Who is satisfied with this randomness?
Final Blast: Discipline Is Not an Option; It Must Become Your Culture Code
This is the clincher: A Culture of Discipline is NOT your optional DLC (DownLoadable Content); A Culture of Discipline IS must become a pillar in your core operating system. A Culture of Discipline myst be hard-coded into your DNA.
Do you have the courage, commitment and focus to make discipline a hard-coded part of your culture?
Avoid the following Culture of Discipline Mindset Buzzkill...
If right now you are thinking to yourself, "I will save this link in Evernote and perhaps over the Christmas break I will blow the dust off this and work on creating a true Culture of Discipline."
Wrong answer. You could be dead by Christmas. And besides, Why procrastinate regarding something of such massive importance to your trajectory?
Make creating a Culture of Discipline your initial downpayment on dramatically-enhancing your legacy.
Your next move is not just a decision; your next move is your opportunity to throw down your gauntlet - an existential commitment to the future of your business. Make this your trajectory change.
With a Culture of Discipline, your business does not just grow; it evolves.
The clock is ticking, the stage is set.
Seeking a Scaling Up Sherpa?
If you are a constitutionally dissatisfied Founder / CEOs who is committed to scaling your business. I guide committed leaders to align their team with a clear vision, goals, effective meetings and real accountability so that they may unleash the untapped potential of their people and business.
Chris Young is a Trusted Advisor To Founders / CEOs | Certified Scaling Up Coach | Builder of People, Leaders, Teams & Economic Moats | Strategist and proud founder of The Rainmaker Group.
