Why are 10xers so rare if so much thought has been given into what makes a 10xer and what cultivates a Growth Mindset. Why are these Waldos so rare and hard to find?

If we imagine that excelling, succeeding, finding happiness is basically a choice, then why aren’t we all enjoying being there? Perhaps because it’s scary, daunting and even overwhelming to imagine it’s all on us. Super CEOs, athletes, scholars, movie stars, etc are not super humans born with some innate qualities that we simply don’t have. If we can all excel beyond where we currently are if we wanted to enough to work at it, then where is our excuse?

If you add to that, that we all have had experiences and encountered people that have put us down and set us back. To be a Rose that Grows from Concrete, we need to persevere in the face of challenges. Being a 10xer is hard work. You need the desire to get up when knocked down, even when it’s likely you’re likely to get knocked down again. Is it not easier then to stay down?

It’s not a free lunch

There is certainly also the danger of growing up believing you can have it because you want it – that belief can lead to disappointment and even depression if that message/belief was not also accompanied with the understanding that can require tremendous effort and involve lots of failures. Simon Sinek certainly also has a perspective on Why You Don’t SUCCEED.

Likewise, there’s a danger in believing you need to love taking risks as a 10xer. A hunger for challenges and willingness to take new approaches needs to come with a tolerance for risk, but not a hunger for risk. Not appreciating that distinction can lead to failures that will be hard to recover or learn from.This too can contribute to the rarity of 10xers.

Similarly, those with a growth mindset need to be willing to overcome adversity, they don’t necessarily need to have failed. Leaning over the tips of your skis to be better able to turn and go faster, but No Fear can equate to No Brains. Growth and success are hard to find if you’re not willing to step outside of your comfort zone. You must experience failure to succeed – the chances to grow and succeed do not continuously increase as you get further and further away from your comfort zone. As Andy Rachleff suggests You Learn More From Success Than Failure.

Looking at our role models is daunting by the hugeness of their sacrifices and success. Their achievements should inspire us. Be curious to find your own passion and drive instead of being humbled by their achievements,.

What should we do?

If your objective of is to become a 10xer, you are setting your goals way to low. We can go well beyond having a 10x impact on this earth if we build team, classrooms, businesses by inspiring, motivation, mentoring and developing others to go beyond a 1x impact to 2x, 3x, …10x. If we can help 10 people become 10xers, then we’ve just done a 100x. What if those 10 people inspire others… This is how teams win world championships and businesses excel to unforeseen heights. This is how students rise to make this country and world a better place. We should be inspired by people we encounter to achieve new heights as individuals. We can also multiply that affect can also be multiplied many times if we inspire those around us.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,  Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Leadership

Why are 10xers so rare? Often, as leaders we don’t cultivate, nurture and reward the characteristics, curiosity and hunger that’s needed. We don’t allow for “failures” to be seen as opportunities to grow and learn.

See also:

• 10x Engineer – The root cause.
• Legendary Leadership: The Wisdom of Brad Smith
• Ian Leslie: Curious – The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It