Amp It Up
February 25, 2023
How do you compress your personal growth from decades into days?
(Here, “personal growth” means wealth, health, relationships, career, and your mental and emotional states.)
We can look to Frank Slootman for answers. As Chairman and CEO of notable tech companies, Frank has written a lot about hyper-growth for companies (see article and book).
But the lessons are undeniably applicable to your personal growth as well.
Slootman sums his advice up in his “Amp It Up” philosophy.
Amp It Up has three pillars:
- Increase the Tempo
- Raise the Standards
- Narrow the Focus
I want you to take these ideas seriously because, my friend, you’re likely living the opposite of Amp It Up right now.
Don’t stress — it’s not your fault.
Society and corporate culture have a way of pulling you to a mediocre, sloth-like mean. Looking back at your last few years (professionally and personally), it might feel like you’ve stalled.
The antidote to this sloth-ness is to Amp It Up.
Let’s break down each of the three pillars and how they apply to your personal growth.
1. Increase the Tempo
Right now, you might find yourself sluggish…potentially in stasis. You’ve grown so accustomed to the safety and stability of your work that you can’t imagine life beyond this. And yet, you’re not happy.
This is why you must up the tempo — compress “needle-moving” efforts into tight time blocks.
Need to switch career paths? Need to start that side business? Need to develop financial literacy for creating passive income?
Do NOT dabble for years. Do NOT be okay with incremental baby steps over long periods.
Instead, compress big goals into short timeframes.
Parkinson’s Law is real — work expands to the time allotted.
Start by asking questions that’ll unlock you from your slumber:
- How do I achieve 10 years of growth in 1 year?
- If I could only do my day job for 4 hours per day, what would I do? When would I do it?
- What investments can I make now that will likely 10X my income in the next 3 years?
Let’s go. Have some urgency.
Up your tempo…now.
2. Raise the Standards
Most people lack a rich and compelling vision of their future self. So first, develop that picture.
Once you have this motivating view of a career and life that sets your heart on fire, you must raise the standards.
This means:
- Your handful of essential career and life priorities are specific and clear
- You’ve clarified what you’ll no longer tolerate in your life (e.g., 9 straight hours of pointless meetings, toxic relationships)
- You have a strong decision filter for what you say “hell yeah” and “no” to
Think of it like flying commercial overseas. You’ve long tolerated the discomfort of economy, but dreamed of the white-glove service and lay-flat seats in first class.
Raise your standards. Choose first class.
Your actions and outcomes will change accordingly.
3. Narrow the Focus
The only way to increase your tempo and raise your standards is if you narrow your focus.
Yeah, you “get it.”
But I’m guessing your focus probably sucks right now.
You’ve got bosses, colleagues, family, friends, and contrived “pressures” in your head pulling you in a million different directions.
You try to do that whole work-life balance thing, while juggling dozens of balls. Clearly, that’s not working.
Being a badass (in professional and personal contexts) requires a narrow focus.
And this requires clear thinking — something you commit to day after day through ritualized practice (e.g., journaling, visualization, nature walks, connecting with coaches and mentors).
…sometimes your “focus” becomes a big project at work, because it’ll unlock a promotion.
…sometimes it’s about helping a loved one through a traumatic time.
…sometimes it’s a 30-day challenge to get your health in order.
And as Slootman says, work sequentially. Trying to do multiple high-priority things at once dilutes the outcomes.
Maybe for the first time ever, narrow your focus.
Your future self (and your family) are depending on you.
In summary, that’s how you Amp It Up.
Slootman’s three pillars work in concert:
- Increase the Tempo
- Raise the Standards
- Narrow the Focus
Amping It Up means you’re DONE with slow, average growth in your life.
Look around — you see the beautiful lives others are living. Make it yours too.
P.S. “Amp It Up” is core to what my coaching clients experience. If it’s your time too, book your complimentary breakthrough call.
P.P.S. Huge thanks to David Perell and the Write of Passage team for shining a light on Amp It Up!
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