The 2 types of growth: Which one are you in?

Logarithmic vs exponential

🏷️ Categories: Continuous improvement, Mathematics.

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“If you work hard, you will see results.”

How many times have you heard this phrase? It's a principle we've been told since we were kids. The idea seems simple: the effort you invest in something translates into progress. If you work twice as hard, you'll get twice as many results. Logical, isn't it?

No. In fact, most things in life don't work that way.

• You train at the gym and after a few months, you stop seeing changes.

• You learn a language and after making a lot of progress at the beginning, you start to stagnate.

• You start a business, but your enormous efforts don't seem to be paying off.

And you start to doubt: Am I doing something wrong? Why do others seem to advance faster? Is it worth it to keep trying...?

The reason many feel this way is because they project the future with a linear mindset. However, things rarely follow this trend. In reality, there are 2 types of growth that explain most phenomena in our lives much better: logarithmic and exponential growth.

If you understand how they work, you will accurately project your progress, be clear about your expectations and stay motivated every day even when you don't see progress.

Let's look at these 2 types of growth.

Logarithmic growth

Logarithmic growth is where you see rapid progress at first, but over time, each new improvement becomes more difficult to achieve.

At first everything seems simple...

• Your first days in the gym bring rapid gains in strength and endurance.

• You learn words and phrases in a language with ease and soon you can speak.

• You apply a couple of productivity techniques and soon notice how you're saving time.

But then something changes...

• You keep training and no longer see obvious changes when you look in the mirror.

• You continue to study the language, but it's getting harder and harder to notice improvements.

• You continue to optimize your routine but no longer notice a drastic change in performance.

This is the point where most get frustrated and give up. They assumed that their progress would follow the same trajectory as always. That everything would be just as easy. But logarithmic growth doesn't work that way.

Now let's look at its opposite...

Exponential growth

Exponential growth is the opposite. The beginning seems fruitless. You put in the effort, but the results are almost invisible. Only if you persist long enough something magical happens: there comes a tipping point where growth accelerates.

It's a tough start, but persistence will bring incredible results.

Imagine you write a newsletter. For months, your articles barely get any hits. Suddenly, an article becomes popular, more people discover your content and the growth starts to accelerate more and more.

• It will take you a long time to have 1000 readers.

• It will take you less time to get the next 1000 readers.

• It will take you a lot less time to get the next 1000 readers.

The same result requires less and less time and resources.

Or take the case of a business. At the beginning, attracting customers is a challenge and it is hard to survive in the market. Years go by and only when your business gains a name, customers start to discover you effortlessly and everything takes off.

Whatever you do, always be clear about what curve you are on.

How to take advantage of every growth curve

The biggest mistake you can make is to apply linear expectations to growth that is not linear. If you're in a logarithmic process, don't expect steady, easy improvements. If you're in an exponential process, don't give up too soon.

Here are strategies to maximize performance for each curve.

1. Logarithmic growth

Anticipate plateaus of stagnation and, when they arrive, change the target.

If your goal is to increase your productivity, you will face logarithmic growth: at first there will be noticeable progress, but it will become increasingly difficult to optimize your routine.

The most effective strategy is to plan the different areas of improvement that you will need to cover in the long term. Instead of trying to improve everything, limit yourself to one aspect until you master it. For example, start by efficiently managing your mailbox, then master file organization to access them in seconds, then work on your concentration and reducing distractions, and so on.

This ensures steady progress.

When you notice stagnation approaching in one area, move on to the next.

It is more efficient to reach 9/10 in several skills than to obsess over 10/10 in one. This is the essential principle of Pareto's Law.

2. Exponential growth

To grow exponentially, be patient at the beginning and maintain discipline.

Not working 2 days in a row on your goal can ruin your performance, and as it is a very long term goal, you need firm habits. Always evaluate the growth potential of the curve to project your future and know if you are on the right track.

Let's take the example of digital writing: Twitter, Substack and a blog.

All three have exponential growth, but at different levels. Growing on Twitter after a year doesn't compare to doing it on Substack, let alone a blog. If you write with quality and work on your visibility, growth will accelerate, but at different rates.

Before investing your time in a project, always keep this in mind.

Among similar options, choose the one with the highest growth. Thus, Substack is ideal for long-form writing, well above a blog. Twitter has long-form, but it is paid and little consumed on the platform, so it is not the ideal place either.

Substack is the best option: high growth and readers interested in long text.

Almost nothing in life has linear growth, they are usually mixtures of curves like these.

Always keep in mind the type of curve you are playing on and you will play with an advantage.

✍️ Your turn: Have you ever given up on a goal because you felt you weren't making enough progress?

💭 Quote of the day: “If you want to lift a hundred kilos, don't expect to succeed the first time. You start with a lighter weight and work your way up little by little. In reality, you don't get to lift a hundred kilos every day until you succeed. But it's on the days when you push yourself that growth occurs.” Norman Doidge, The Brain that Changes Itself.

See you in the next! 👋