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Do Scale: A road map to growing a remarkable company.
Scaling up is something most founders aspire to, especially once the tricky start-up phase has been navigated. It can increase your reach and futureproof your business. But how do you ‘scale’? And how does it differ from ‘flipping’ for a quick profit or slower organic growth? Les McKeown advises industry leaders on how to achieve scalable, sustainable growth. In Do Scale, he draws from his decades of experience to provide a clear understanding of what’s involved, and the strategies needed to take your business (or not-for-profit) to the next level. You’ll find o What if means to scale – and if now is the right time o Why founders need to 'get out of their own way' o How to develop winning teams o Your secret weapon for decision making o With practical advice and clear guidance, Do Scale is an essential manual for anyone looking to grow a successful and sustainable organisation – and turn it into something truly remarkable.
128 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2019
36 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Les McKeown
12 books26 followersLes McKeown is the president and CEO of Predictable Success. Les has launched and managed over forty businesses and is the cofounder of an incubation company that helped hundreds of entrepreneurs launch businesses employing thousands worldwide. Since moving to the United States in 1999, Les has helped founder-owners, CEOs, C-level executives, and their teams identify and eliminate personal and organizational barriers to growth.
Les lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts, with his wife and two dogs, and receives occasional care packages from his three children.
Contact Les at Lesm@predictablesuccess.com and read more at Predictablesuccess.com
Les lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts, with his wife and two dogs, and receives occasional care packages from his three children.
Contact Les at Lesm@predictablesuccess.com and read more at Predictablesuccess.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 27, 2020
This was a nice read, I do recommend spending a bit of time on it first, and if it's your cup of tea, move deeper in it.
March 1, 2020
Straight to the point, an easy read that gives the information you need to get started scaling your biz.
It was a good introduction for me.
It was a good introduction for me.
February 10, 2020
The book has explored best with practical ideas about the characteristics that distinguish scaling from other forms of business growth which is sustainability. The purpose of scaling isn’t just to earn big bucks quickly or generate maximum profits in short-term. It’s about establishing an organizational infrastructure that supports ongoing exponential growth of market share.
The book's focus is mainly on large businesses but a micro-business can benefit too from ideas. Even, many ideas could be employed not only on business growth but also on self-growth. For instance, setting benchmarks to achieve or "scale vision" to set goals for achieving in numbers...
When a leader decides to scale, they’re often unaware of the implications this will have for their business, themselves, and their employees. Choosing to make scaling an organization’s primary focus means changing its structure, how its managers work, and, importantly, how its leader makes decisions.
Scaling forces an organization to set aside its other goals – some of which will be at the heart of its company values. It also forces its leader to reevaluate their leadership style. But if you, as a leader, create a clear vision, design a management team you can rely on, and regulate your visionary tendencies, you’re in a strong position to succeed.
The book's focus is mainly on large businesses but a micro-business can benefit too from ideas. Even, many ideas could be employed not only on business growth but also on self-growth. For instance, setting benchmarks to achieve or "scale vision" to set goals for achieving in numbers...
When a leader decides to scale, they’re often unaware of the implications this will have for their business, themselves, and their employees. Choosing to make scaling an organization’s primary focus means changing its structure, how its managers work, and, importantly, how its leader makes decisions.
Scaling forces an organization to set aside its other goals – some of which will be at the heart of its company values. It also forces its leader to reevaluate their leadership style. But if you, as a leader, create a clear vision, design a management team you can rely on, and regulate your visionary tendencies, you’re in a strong position to succeed.
February 10, 2020
“When a leader decides to scale, they’re often unaware of the implications this will have for their business, themselves, and their employees. Choosing to make scaling an organization’s primary focus means changing its structure, how its managers work, and, importantly, how its leader makes decisions. Scaling forces an organization to set aside its other goals – some of which will be at the heart of its company values. It also forces its leader to reevaluate their leadership style. But if you, as a leader, create a clear vision, design a management team you can rely on, and regulate your visionary tendencies, you’re in a strong position to succeed.
Actionable advice:
Overcome the entrepreneur’s alter ego – the arsonist – by creating an emotional “airlock.”
A visionary leader often becomes volatile when they have to let their freedom go in order to scale. To avoid transforming into your alter ego – a frustrated creature who will lash out at others – create an emotional “airlock” that you can use to reset yourself back into the dedicated leader everyone loves. This might take the form of listening to a favorite podcast in your car on the way to work or imagining yourself being neutralized as you take the elevator up to your floor in the office.”
Actionable advice:
Overcome the entrepreneur’s alter ego – the arsonist – by creating an emotional “airlock.”
A visionary leader often becomes volatile when they have to let their freedom go in order to scale. To avoid transforming into your alter ego – a frustrated creature who will lash out at others – create an emotional “airlock” that you can use to reset yourself back into the dedicated leader everyone loves. This might take the form of listening to a favorite podcast in your car on the way to work or imagining yourself being neutralized as you take the elevator up to your floor in the office.”
November 8, 2024
I like that this book is short and I could read it easily in two weeks. I also like that it was the correct topic that fit my job.
The reason for giving it a 3 star has nothing to do with the writers knowledge or competence but everything to do with how the book is structured. It was 85% about the definition of scaling and the mindsets in scaling, is that important? Yes I liked it a lot, but left is only 20-40 pages focusing on the things you can do to be successful in your scaling.
The writer also has written other books on the subject and I'm considering checking them out because I have little doubt in his ability.
The reason for giving it a 3 star has nothing to do with the writers knowledge or competence but everything to do with how the book is structured. It was 85% about the definition of scaling and the mindsets in scaling, is that important? Yes I liked it a lot, but left is only 20-40 pages focusing on the things you can do to be successful in your scaling.
The writer also has written other books on the subject and I'm considering checking them out because I have little doubt in his ability.
May 28, 2021
Currently, the company I’m working for has been going through the turbulent space between start-up and scale-up. Les has a great way of explaining transition and what is required to be part of a great scale-up. Although aimed at leadership, this book should be read by all staff whose company is in the ‘white waters’ of transition. It really helps to understand the growing pains and highlight the issues to look out for. At just over 100 pages, it’s a fairly quick read, even for me.
February 27, 2020
Advice for business founders and anyone who wants to grow their organizations. Many leaders are unaware of implications of growing, since it inolves changing structure and way of working, but by having a clear vision, you can succeed.
January 22, 2021
Disappointing. Good ideas. But I hate a book that tells you to ‘check the resources’ and then it’s not up to date or it’s marketing crap. Means they swindled you on content pointing you to dead end. If you’ll pay for the consulting bounty maybe you can up-level.
April 10, 2022
Easy skim read; a few good ideas about how small and big companies have to differ. Essentially saying that bigger companies are more complex; anecdotal evidence becomes insufficient; so multiple team players need to care for the company not just one founder.
June 16, 2019
Very practical book on scaling a business to fit your market.
July 11, 2020
À lire au moment où votre compagnie a besoin de se poser les bonnes questions après plusieurs années de croissance. Concis et méthodologique, un bon petit manuel d'introduction.
August 10, 2020
It’s small but mighty! An incredibly insightful look at the challenges that a growing organization will face - and how to overcome them.
January 24, 2025
Great references for those looking to grow their business. I’d suggest keeping to refer back to, when situations arise and guides are needed.
Read
October 1, 2021Read this quicker than I would have liked, since it had to go back to the library. Might deserve a re-read. Gleaned some really good principles though, stuff I'm gonna want to chew on.
Some of my main takeaways:
- scaling is built on mastering the mundane. Put the right systems and processes in place through consistency and repeatability. My boss says this a lot, and I think this book is on his reading list, so I think he's going to like it!!
- learn to trap, categorize, and store information well. Admit you might not know everything needed to make every decision, and decide who to involve in decision making. Trust intuition and execution, but continue to update your knowledge and experience.
- when doing a task because "no one else knows as much as me about this," help someone else know more than me, ask if it's a matter of preference or core principle, and in some cases hire an external contractor.
- and through it all, remember: progress, not perfection (something I've been telling myself a lot recently)
Like I said, good stuff, especially as our company starts talking about scaling some of our programs!
Some of my main takeaways:
- scaling is built on mastering the mundane. Put the right systems and processes in place through consistency and repeatability. My boss says this a lot, and I think this book is on his reading list, so I think he's going to like it!!
- learn to trap, categorize, and store information well. Admit you might not know everything needed to make every decision, and decide who to involve in decision making. Trust intuition and execution, but continue to update your knowledge and experience.
- when doing a task because "no one else knows as much as me about this," help someone else know more than me, ask if it's a matter of preference or core principle, and in some cases hire an external contractor.
- and through it all, remember: progress, not perfection (something I've been telling myself a lot recently)
Like I said, good stuff, especially as our company starts talking about scaling some of our programs!
February 11, 2020
Do Scale... by Les Mc Keown was my blink of the day from @blinkist
It's all about scaling your company, great stuff from a man who has started 40 companies by 35.
It looks at scaling vs flipping and other dynamics of growth
It's all about scaling your company, great stuff from a man who has started 40 companies by 35.
It looks at scaling vs flipping and other dynamics of growth
June 24, 2019
Good read
It was simple and easy to understand. It will help leaders of organizations to lay the foundation for scaling their businesses.
It was simple and easy to understand. It will help leaders of organizations to lay the foundation for scaling their businesses.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews