Do you ever feel like you’re grinding harder but not really getting anywhere?
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
Most people aim for modest, incremental improvements: doubling their income, getting a bit fitter, or shaving an hour off their workday.
But what if these “2× goals” are actually harder to achieve than something much bigger?
The book 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy flips our default growth mindset on its head.
It argues that by aiming for massive results, we’re forced to simplify, focus, and innovate in ways that incremental thinking never allows.
That idea hit me like a sack of tomatoes, and now I’m finding far greater success focusing on the small handful of projects that move the needle the most for me.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the golden advice nuggets from the book:
1. Aim for 10×, not 2×.
When you chase 2×, you’re essentially trying to do the same things you’ve always done, but just faster, harder, or longer. It’s exhausting, and it rarely produces real breakthroughs.
Aiming for 10×, on the other hand, makes you question everything.
You can’t rely on minor tweaks. You must reinvent your approach entirely, which ironically feels clearer and more energising.
2. Cut the 80%.
Most of what fills your days produces very little meaningful return.
The authors argue that to move towards 10× results, you need to identify the 20% of your activities that create extraordinary value, and cut almost everything else.
This is uncomfortable because it means letting go of tasks that feel productive but are actually holding you back.
But once you shed the dead weight, your path forward becomes lighter and far more powerful.
3. Bigger is simpler.
Going for 2× keeps all your options open, which creates complexity.
You end up juggling dozens of small strategies at once.
Going for 10× is different. Most options fall away immediately, leaving only the few paths that could truly get you there.
4. Quantity won’t cut it.
Working twice as hard is a recipe for burnout.
Aiming for 10× forces you to escape the trap of simply adding hours and effort.
Instead, you’re compelled to create leverage, whether through smarter systems, partnerships, or new ways of thinking.
This shift from raw effort to innovation is what turns exponential growth from fantasy into reality.
5. Less competition at the top.
Almost everyone is playing the 2× game, chasing small incremental wins.
That makes the 2× space crowded, competitive, and uninspiring.
Very few people aim for 10× because it feels too audacious…yet that’s exactly why the competition is thinner.
If you’re brave enough to set a 10× target, you’ll often find yourself in wide-open territory, free to create breakthroughs without the noise.
6. Focus on your unique ability.
No one can be world-class at everything.
The 10× path demands that you uncover your unique ability: the intersection of what you’re best at and what creates the most impact, and make it your main focus.
By leaning into the work only you can do, you magnify your results while freeing yourself from mediocrity in areas that don’t matter.
7. Create systems, not strain.
You can push yourself to double your results through sheer hustle, but that ceiling hits fast.
10× demands a different game entirely. Instead, you build systems, assets, and structures that multiply your output without multiplying your hours.
Whether that’s automating, delegating, or restructuring your workflow, you stop being the bottleneck and start creating something that scales well beyond you.
8. Design your days for energy.
You can’t create 10× results if you’re depleted and constantly running on fumes.
Protecting your energy through rest, free days, and recovery fuels creativity, resilience, and the capacity to think bigger.
10× thinking starts with having the physical and mental bandwidth to imagine it.
9. Think in abundance, not scarcity.
Incremental growth is usually rooted in fear: fear of losing what you have, fear of not keeping up, fear of scarcity.
10× growth comes from abundance thinking. Most of us think like we’re related to the squirrel. Choose to create something bigger because you want to, not because you have to.
It’s a joyful pursuit, which makes all the difference in sustaining your growth over time.
10. Step into a new identity
The authors argue that 10× growth isn’t just about doing more, but about becoming someone new.
You can’t stay the same person and achieve exponential results.
You need to shed old habits, assumptions, and even identities to step into the version of you who is capable of 10 times the impact.
That transformation is the true reward of thinking bigger.
How might these ideas influence the way you approach your goals?
What if chasing something much bigger was actually easier and more fun than small, little level-ups?
Share your thoughts below.
Alex
If you enjoyed this and you’d like an effective way to detach from unhelpful thinking that keeps you stressed and small, you’ll love my Untethered Mind course.
It’s a step-by-step program that helps you break free from limited thinking and access an empowering perspective that positively affects every aspect of your life.
👉 Learn more about Untethered Mind here.
Later,
Alex
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Insightful.. I don't know how to express it more but something clicked for me
Thanks Alex, your article confirmed me that I am on right path as I've already chosen the 10x outcome for my business and your article gave me boost for achieving it. Thanks A Ton. Appreciate your work always.