The introduction of the book got me intrigued, by using this one rule, I will be successful and reach all my dreams and goals. Following this simple discipline would ensure my success! Sounds a bit too good to be true, but I still decided to read the book and be open for its message. The book is “The 10X Rule – The Only Difference Between Success and Failure” by Grant Cardone.

The principle of the 10X Rule is simple. To achieve your goals, you must set targets that are 10 times what you think you want and then do 10 times what you think it will take to accomplish those targets. The first and the biggest mistake people who want to be successful do is setting their objectives too low. Achieving the targets then feel like you haven’t gotten anywhere, and you still haven’t got what you wanted. But if your targets are 10 times bigger and more ambitious, even landing half-way would be five times better than the original goal.

Miscalculating the efforts is another mistake people tend do when trying to achieve something. It causes one issues identifying the problem and eventually assuming that the target is unattainable, which then in most cases, leads to lowering the target for it to be attainable. It’s a major mistake that should not happen, especially in organizations, since it sends a message that obtaining targets is unimportant and the only way to win the race is by moving the finish line. The target is never the problem in the 10X Rule. “Any target attacked with the right actions in the right amounts with persistence is attainable.”

Success

Success is a term which is difficult to define since it varies from person to person. A child’s definition of success can be for example scoring an A from a test, while an older person can define success as having grandchildren. According to the author, in order to have and keep success, you must know the following aspects:

1. Success is important.

Most people on this planet would agree that success is vital to the well-being of the individual, family, community and to the future survival of all of these. Without success, you, your group, company, goals and dream, even the entire civilization would cease to survive and thrive. History has shown us that success is needed in order to exist. Consider success as expansion. Think of the Vikings, Ancient Rome and Greece, all of these ceased to exist because their expansion didn’t continue.

2. Success is your duty.

Treating success as an option is one of the main reasons people don’t go for success, it also disallows people to not live up to their full potential. If you don’t consider it as your duty to live up to your full potential, then you simply won’t.

3. There is no shortage of success

Unlike a tangible product, there is no limit as to how much success can be created. You can have as much as you want, someone else’s success doesn’t limit you. Unfortunately, many people see success as a scarcity. They see it as a zero-sum game, “for every winner, there is a loser”.

Setting 10X goals

We are regularly being warned for setting our goals “too high”. The reality is that if you start small, you are probably going to go small. To maintain your enthusiasm, you have to make your goals significant in order for them to keep your attention. Average goal setting cannot fuel massive 10X actions. Here’s a few things to consider before setting 10X goals:

1. You are setting these goals for you – Not for anyone else.
2. Anything is possible.
3. You have much more potential than you realize.
4. Success is your duty, obligation and responsibility
5. There is no shortage of success.
6. Regardless of the size of the goal, it will require work.

After reviewing these concepts, sit down and write out your goals.

Getting started with 10X

So, where to begin? When to start? According to the author, there are only two times that exist for successful people; now and tomorrow. You want to focus to some extent on now but keep most of your attention on the future. Act now and keep acting knowing that enough actions now will create the future. The author suggests a few things to keep in mind as you start living by the 10X rule:

1. Do not reduce your goals as you write them.
2. Do not get lost in the details of how to accomplish them at this point.
3. Ask yourself, “What actions can I take today to move me toward these goals?”
4. Take whatever actions you come up with—regardless of what they are or how you feel.
5. Do not prematurely value the outcome of your actions.
6. Go back each day and review the list.

The 10X Rule sounds very attractive, even though really exhausting. I’m imagining my current life situation and the actions I take and multiply the actions by ten. I would be on the verge of burnout extremely fast since I need my daily free time to be able to work effectively.

REFERENCES:

Cardone, G. (2011). The 10x rule the only difference between success and failure . Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.