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The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think
Mass Market Paperback
11 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin P. Hardy
14 books485 followersDr. Benjamin P Hardy is an organizational psychologist with a Ph.D. from Clemson University, and a father of six. He currently lives in Windermere, Florida
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 21, 2025
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)
You don’t grow by doing more, but by becoming someone different and building systems that match that new identity.
Executive Summary
Core Transformational Moves:
1. Frame — Set an impossible goal with a short timeline to force innovation.
2. Floor — Eliminate what belongs to your “old self” or model.
3. Focus — Simplify around a few asymmetric, high-leverage actions.
Hardy argues that exponential growth emerges when you stop optimizing the past and design entirely for the future.
Review
As a learning designer, I loved how this book parallels instructional transformation. Hardy’s “Frame–Floor–Focus” mirrors how we redesign learning systems: by setting bold outcomes, removing cognitive clutter, and aligning every process toward meaningful capability. His call to “become your future self now” dovetails neatly with identity-based learning — teaching people to act as the person they aim to become.
That said, the book leans high-level; it’s energizing but abstract. Entrepreneurs and learning leaders will find plenty to provoke reflection, but those craving detailed mechanics may need to translate ideas into their own contexts. Still, it reminded me that clarity and elimination are powerful design principles — in business and in learning alike.
TL;DR
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) — A concise, identity-first manifesto for bold, systemic growth. Inspiring, if slightly conceptual. Best for leadership professionals and individual contributors ready to cut the noise and design for exponential change.
Similar Reads
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan — identity shifts for asymmetric gains.
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown — the disciplined pursuit of less, perfectly complementing Hardy’s focus principle.
- The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy — sustaining motivation through progress framing.
You don’t grow by doing more, but by becoming someone different and building systems that match that new identity.
Executive Summary
Core Transformational Moves:
1. Frame — Set an impossible goal with a short timeline to force innovation.
2. Floor — Eliminate what belongs to your “old self” or model.
3. Focus — Simplify around a few asymmetric, high-leverage actions.
Hardy argues that exponential growth emerges when you stop optimizing the past and design entirely for the future.
Review
As a learning designer, I loved how this book parallels instructional transformation. Hardy’s “Frame–Floor–Focus” mirrors how we redesign learning systems: by setting bold outcomes, removing cognitive clutter, and aligning every process toward meaningful capability. His call to “become your future self now” dovetails neatly with identity-based learning — teaching people to act as the person they aim to become.
That said, the book leans high-level; it’s energizing but abstract. Entrepreneurs and learning leaders will find plenty to provoke reflection, but those craving detailed mechanics may need to translate ideas into their own contexts. Still, it reminded me that clarity and elimination are powerful design principles — in business and in learning alike.
TL;DR
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) — A concise, identity-first manifesto for bold, systemic growth. Inspiring, if slightly conceptual. Best for leadership professionals and individual contributors ready to cut the noise and design for exponential change.
Similar Reads
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan — identity shifts for asymmetric gains.
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown — the disciplined pursuit of less, perfectly complementing Hardy’s focus principle.
- The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy — sustaining motivation through progress framing.
September 20, 2025
Oof. If you want to read a sales pitch with some Musk worship (the Twitter deal was part of his grand plan to get to Mars via a Trump election), references to missionary work, and 101 organizational psych/biz advice (like "cut the customers that don't give you high ROI") from someone that has never actually worked at a "scaling" company, this is for you.
If you're reading this, dear author, I apologize if it seems rude. This is not a good book.
If you're reading this, dear potential reader, run.
If you're reading this, dear author, I apologize if it seems rude. This is not a good book.
If you're reading this, dear potential reader, run.
November 2, 2025
a lot of stories that underline the hypothesis but my bottom line is: set an unrealistic goal with a unrealistic deadline. The How isn’t discussed within the book, only that you might need a “super-who” in order to achieve it.
The book reminds me very much of “10x is easier than 2x” with Ben Hardy as co-author.
The book reminds me very much of “10x is easier than 2x” with Ben Hardy as co-author.
August 17, 2025
Great book. One of the best business books I have read recently.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews