Do Scale Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4: The Magical Startup and the Mystical Founder: Two Myths of Scalability

Summary:

Do Scale-3D

In this chapter, we started looking at one of the most difficult aspects of scaling a business... YOU!

To make the transition from leader of a growing business to leader of a business ready to scale , you will need to make some changes and dispel some myths.

To access the tools for Chapter 4, simply click the links below to click through the resources.


Chapter 4 Resources

INTERVIEW: DAVID ALLEN

David Allen is the author of "Getting Things Done" (GTD), the productivity system that has revolutionized how thousands of people think about productivity, business, and life in general.  

As you would expect, David's advice to leaders and managers is of the very highest quality - he has a way of seeing (and acutely communicating) business, organizational and life - lessons.

In this interview with Les, David discusses the history, growth and current challenges he faced with his company, DavidCo.

Click here to listen to the interview.

EXTERNAL RESOURCE: HOWARD SCHULTZ - POUR YOUR HEART INTO IT ONE CUP AT A TIME

It wasn’t long ago that Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz was the poster child for Visionary’s the world over.

In growing a small coffee company from 11 stores to a global brand of more than 1000 stores world-wide, Schultz displayed the ultimate trait of a Visionary; to see something which was not there before.

This is a great tour through the early days of growth up to the period the company was in Predictable Success.

Click here to buy the book.

It is exactly because Schultz didn’t manage to institutionalize his V-ness that Starbucks fell from its height and is now struggling to get back to Predictable Success (despite what he claims in his latest book Onward).

That being said this is still a great read and gives a good insight into the mind of a true Visionary. 

EXTERNAL RESOURCE: BUFFETT – THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CAPITALIST

In his early days Warren Buffett was a Processor through and through. You don’t get a reputation as the world’s greatest investor without the attention to detail and process that a Processor naturally possesses.

As the activity of Berkshire Hathway evolved from purely buying stock to buying complete companies, Buffett too underwent an evolution from a Processor to a Synergist leading a full blown operating company.

This book, by Roger Lowenstein, outlines that journey and provides some great insight into the mind of one of America’s greatest business leaders. Well worth the read.

Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist

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