Entrepreneurs often think of growth as a creative process: new ideas, new markets, new opportunities. But the companies that truly scale don’t grow by creativity alone. They grow through discipline.
In Great by Choice, Jim Collins called it fanatic discipline, the relentless consistency that separates companies that thrive in chaos from those that collapse under it. Scaling Up brings that same principle to life through three essential disciplines: Priorities, Data, and Meeting Rhythms.
1. Priorities
Focus is the foundation of discipline. When everything feels important, nothing truly is. Scaling Up companies commit to a small number of clear priorities: annual, quarterly, and even weekly – that direct energy toward what matters most. Saying no becomes an act of strategy.
2. Data
What gets measured gets managed. Reliable data turns intuition into insight and keeps emotion out of decision-making. A few key metrics, not dozens, give leaders a pulse on performance and let them see problems early, while there’s still time to adjust.
3. Meeting Rhythms
Discipline lives in the calendar. Consistent meeting rhythms keep communication flowing, priorities visible, and accountability alive. The right rhythm: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually, ensures that teams stay connected and focused on execution, not just intention.
Discipline isn’t the enemy of freedom; it’s what creates it. When priorities are clear, data is visible, and meetings are purposeful, leaders gain time, teams gain traction, and the business gains momentum.
If your business is growing but feels harder than it should, let’s talk. Schedule a call to explore how these Scaling Up disciplines can help your team scale with greater clarity and control.