This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The 10X Rule" by Grant Cardone. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here .
What is The 10X Rule book about? How does The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone reframe the requirements to achieve success?
The 10X Rule book is about extraordinary success and what it requires. You have to aim significantly higher and do significantly more to get the biggest achievements.
Keep reading for an overview of the key messages of The 10X Rule book.
Overview of The 10X Rule Book
Nearly everyone seeks the “holy grail” of success, but most people fall short. In The 10X Rule book, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Grant Cardone argues that people don’t succeed because:
1) They misunderstand what it takes to be successful. People mistakenly think success requires having money, connections, talent, the right education, being in the right business, or being in the right place at the right time. But these don’t guarantee success, according to The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone.
Only the 10X Rule—setting extreme goals and taking extreme action to meet them—guarantees success and, unlike the above criteria, it’s available to everyone.
2) People don’t approach success the right way. First, they don’t set high enough goals due to “average” thinking. They don’t want to be unrealistic or risk failure, so they set seemingly attainable goals, yet still fall short.
Second, people fail to reach their goals because they underestimate what it will take to reach them and don’t apply enough effort. Again, this is average thinking—they assume that by putting in a “reasonable” amount of effort they’ll succeed.
The 10X Solution
Instead of coming from external factors (money or connections), success comes from having the right mindset. Cardone argues you need to scale up your thinking and actions by a factor of 10. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone says the formula for success is: Set goals that are 10 times bigger than the average, then work 10 times harder than average to achieve them. Cardone refers to the latter as taking “massive” action. It takes extraordinary thinking and effort to achieve extraordinary success.
Setting 10X goals and taking extraordinary steps to achieve them isn’t taught in business schools. But anyone who achieves extraordinary success—whether a CEO, philanthropist, entrepreneur, politician, or athlete—follows the 10X rule, whether they realize it or not. What successful athlete hasn’t devoted extraordinary effort to training and practice?
The 10X Rule can be applied to any personal or professional goal, whether it’s having an extraordinary marriage, starting a hugely successful business, or making $10 million.
Besides reaching your goals, living by the 10X standard provides other benefits, including a sense of purpose, increased self-confidence, a way to overcome fears and procrastination, renewed energy, and greater satisfaction. Further, it’s a way to stand out from the crowd, fulfill your potential, and create the life you want.
In business, a think big/act big mindset enables you to overcome obstacles such as competition, economic downturns, disruptions, and client resistance.
Operating at a 10X level is a discipline for reaching all goals, it’s a way of life, and the way to handle all tasks and projects.
Why Set 10X Goals?
Most people set modest goals, according to The 10X Rule book. Our goals are based on beliefs drummed into us by others, who define what constitutes “enough” or what’s realistic. We’re told that if we set unrealistic goals, we’ll just fall short and get discouraged; that we should be happy with “enough” to live comfortably.
However, you’ve probably been disappointed more often in the past by setting goals that are too low rather than too high—because when you set low targets and hit them, you know it’s not much of an achievement and you feel dissatisfied.
But if you set a huge (10X) goal and come up short, you’ll still achieve more than you would have in hitting a lesser goal. For example, if you originally set a goal of making $100,000, then boosted it to a 10X goal of $1 million, wouldn’t you rather come up short on the $1 million goal?
When you aim for only “enough” to be comfortable, you’re limiting yourself to being happy with just a little success. As a result, you’ll put in a limited amount of effort, get little in return, and won’t keep it very long.
Extraordinary or 10X goals are, by definition, bigger than what most people can imagine and achieve.
Getting Started With The 10X Rule Book
Instead of following their dreams, most people set average goals based on what others think is possible. The 10X Rule is for those who aren’t satisfied with average and who are determined to create an exceptional life.
To get started, make a list of your goals, then a list of actions, then start taking those actions.
Don’t give in to the urge to wait, or try to talk yourself out of acting. Changing your life is like being in a vehicle that’s stuck in the mud; you only need enough traction to move a few inches. It will get messy, but soon you’ll make real progress.
Act now (not a few minutes from now) and keep acting with the assurance that by doing everything in your power in the present, you’re creating the future. Nothing—whether it’s financial problems, fears, past failures, or other challenges—is bigger than your ability to dream and act at 10X levels. That’s the key message of The 10X Rule book.
———End of Preview———
Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Grant Cardone's "The 10X Rule" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full The 10X Rule summary :
- How to set goals that are 10 times bigger than average
- How to use extraordinary thinking to achieve extraordinary results
- The 3 myths that will sabotage your chances of success if you let them
