The Speed Factor: Why is 10x Growth Better Than 2x?

The Speed Factor in Business, Nonprofits, and Faith-Based Organizations

Imagine ordering something online and having it arrive at your doorstep within hours. Amazon has revolutionized customer expectations by making speed a fundamental part of its service model. Companies that fail to keep up are left behind. Speed is no longer just an advantage—it is a necessity.

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Now, think about this in your own business or organization. When execution lags, opportunities slip away. I recently had a personal experience that reinforced this reality. One hairstylist took 12 hours to complete a hairstyle that another stylist finished in two hours—with the same technique and quality. The second stylist delivered better results in a fraction of the time, and I was willing to pay double the fee for it. Why? Because she was not answering phone calls or stopping to send or respond to text messages. I have learned that speed is invaluable when coupled with quality.

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This principle applies to every industry, from hairstyling to recruitment. Recently, a client expressed disappointment that it took ten days to send an offer letter to a candidate after they had approved the hire. Regardless of who was responsible, this kind of delay can result in lost talent, reduced credibility, and client dissatisfaction. We immediately collaborated with the client to enhance their and our system and process. If we want to be the best in our field, especially in industries where timely decisions impact lives, communities, and business success, we need to rethink how we work—not just harder, but smarter and faster.

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The 10x vs. 2x Concept: Why Bigger Goals Require Smarter Strategies

Many believe that achieving 10x growth requires 10x effort, but that is a misconception. Scaling rapidly is often easier than making incremental improvements because it forces us to rethink how we operate instead of just doing more of the same.

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The difference between 2x growth and 10x growth is that 2x typically relies on working harder—more hours, more effort, more stress—whereas 10x requires a strategic shift that enhances efficiency and impact.

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A Harvard Business Review study found that companies focused on automation and efficiency grew revenue 37% faster than their competitors. Businesses that understand the power of streamlining and prioritizing speed thrive because they learn to scale smarter, not just bigger.

Speed as a Competitive Advantage for Businesses, Nonprofits, and Faith-Based Organizations

Speed is one of the most underestimated competitive advantages in today's fast-paced world. Companies that operate with agility, responsiveness, and efficiency win clients and retain them.

For example, FedEx transformed global shipping by prioritizing overnight delivery, setting a new industry standard. Similarly, Netflix revolutionized content consumption by optimizing streaming technology and eliminating traditional distribution delays. These companies disrupted their industries by making speed a central part of their strategy.

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The Cost of Being Slow in Business, Nonprofits, and Faith-Based Organizations

Slow execution can lead to missed opportunities, decreased engagement, and lost trust. Delays can have serious consequences, whether in a business closing a deal, a nonprofit applying for a critical grant, or a faith-based organization responding to a community need. Organizations that fail to move quickly risk falling behind competitors or failing to meet their mission objectives. We observe this with:

• Missed Opportunities: Slow hiring processes lead to losing top talent.
• Client Frustration: Delays signal inefficiency or lack of urgency.
• Damaged Reputation: A company known for its slowness struggles to win high-value clients.
• Lost Revenue: Speed directly impacts the ability to close deals and drive sales.

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A Forbes study found that 76% of customers say speed is as important as price and quality when choosing a business.

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Speed vs. Haste: Why Faster is Better—But Only When Done Right

While speed is critical, there is a fine line between working faster and making uncalculated or impulsive decisions. Skipping essential steps for the sake of speed can be just as damaging as being too slow.

A perfect example of haste over speed is recruitment. Cutting corners in the hiring process—rushing through interviews, skipping reference checks, or overlooking culture fit—can result in hiring a misaligned employee. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this mistake can cost a company up to 30% of the employee's annual salary.

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To avoid haste while maintaining speed:

• Streamline, do not skip: Eliminate redundant steps, but never skip critical evaluations.
• Automate, but verify: Use technology to speed up hiring, but always ensure human oversight.
• Empower decision-making: Give your team the authority to act fast, but within structured guidelines.

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How to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Success is not about working longer hours or doing more, it is about focusing on the right tasks, optimizing processes, and effectively leveraging resources. High-performing organizations understand that efficiency, not exhaustion, drives sustainable growth. Businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations can achieve greater impact with less effort by identifying bottlenecks, automating where possible, and empowering teams to make informed decisions.

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Identify and Eliminate Bottlenecks

• Look for common workflow delays (e.g., offer letters, approvals, scheduling issues).
• Set clear deadlines for every task and hold teams accountable.

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Leverage Systems & Automation

• Responsibly use AI-powered recruiting tools to cut hiring time in half.
• Automate repetitive tasks so the human effort is reserved for the customer experience and high-value work.

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Accelerate Smart Decisions

• Streamline approvals to eliminate bureaucracy and unnecessary delays.

• Train team members to make informed decisions faster.

Implement Time-Blocking & Focus Sprints

• Use the Pomodoro Technique (working in focused time blocks with short breaks) or Deep Work principles (eliminating distractions for prolonged focus) to boost efficiency. To improve effectiveness, ensure that goals are set using SMART? criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• Set clear priorities daily, optimize the time of day you work best, and avoid unnecessary distractions.

Real-World Success Stories: Winning with Speed in Different Sectors

Here are some real world success stories:

• A Nonprofit Success Story: A faith-based nonprofit improved volunteer onboarding by cutting wait times in half, increasing volunteer participation by 40%.
• A Small Business Story: A bakery streamlined its online ordering process, reducing response time from twenty-four hours to two hours, leading to a 30% increase in orders.
• A Faith-Based Organization: A church responding to a disaster relief effort leveraged digital tools to mobilize aid within hours, rather than days, strengthening community trust.
• FedEx: Redefined the logistics industry with overnight delivery.
• Netflix: Transformed content consumption by eliminating wait times for entertainment.
• A Marketing Agency: A firm that reduced the proposal turnaround from two weeks to 48 hours saw a 35% increase in closed deals.
• Our Own Business: The contrast between a 10-day offer letter delay and what we should be aiming for—sending offers within the same day or the following business day of client approval.

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Recommended Books for Leaders, Nonprofits, and Faith-Based Organizations

Here are some recommended books to support your education about speed:

• "An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind" by Erwin McManus
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
• "Deep Work" by Cal Newport
• "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown
• "Lead Like Jesus" by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges
• "Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders" by Joel Manby
• “10x Is Easier Than 2x” by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• "Scale or Fail" by Allison Maslan
• "The 4 Disciplines of Execution" by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey & Jim Huling
• "The Gap and the Gain" by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• "The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations" by James Kouzes & Barry Posner
• "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries
• "The Servant Leader" by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges

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The Mindset Shift for 10x Growth

Scaling at 10x is not just about working harder—it is about rethinking how we work entirely. Organizations that grow significantly do not achieve this by simply adding more effort; they do it by being intentional about speed, efficiency, and execution. This requires a shift in mindset—from focusing on incremental improvements to embracing bold, strategic action. Speed is not about rushing through tasks but about optimizing systems, making informed decisions quickly, and leveraging technology and teamwork to remove obstacles. Those who master this balance of speed and quality build credibility, trust, and long-term success.

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If we want to scale 10x, we must:

• Embrace speed as a core value—without sacrificing quality.
• Prioritize execution over perfection—speed of delivery builds trust.
• Constantly seek more innovative, more efficient ways to work.

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Now is the time to take action. Identify one key area where you can increase speed without compromising quality—whether it is streamlining internal processes, leveraging technology, or fostering a culture of urgency and efficiency. Small, deliberate changes can yield massive results. Set a goal, implement improvements, and measure the impact.

Challenge yourself and your team to embrace a mindset where excellence and speed go hand in hand.

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What is one change you can implement today that will bring measurable improvements in speed and efficiency within your organization? Take a moment to reflect and commit to an actionable step.

The future belongs to those who can adapt, execute with precision, and lead with confidence. The time to act is now.

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About Deborah Stallings

My story begins in public housing in Chicago, where my journey to resilience and resourcefulness began. Later, on my grandparents' farm in Mississippi, my brother and I, as children, helped our mother, who, despite paralysis, embraced life with purpose, supported by the love of those around her. Through these formative years, I learned the values of faith, perseverance, education, and hard work.

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This foundation shaped my approach to servant leadership and fueled my passion for helping businesses and organizations like yours turn HR chaos into calmness. Over the last 26+ years, I have dedicated myself to empowering small business CEOs and leaders to stop worrying about HR and start thriving. With my proven AHIRED Method?, I deliver solutions that save money, give back your time, reduce risk, and build engaged leaders and high-performing teams.

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When you work with me, you are not just hiring one person—you are gaining a team of experts and specialists at HR Anew who share my values of wisdom, faith, and excellence. Together, we create transformative results for your business and team.

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My Credentials:

• 30+ years of EEO, HR, Recruitment, and Training expertise
• 20+ years as a Christian educator
• Master’s degree in management and leadership, Notre Dame of Maryland University
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Notre Dame of Maryland University
• Society for Human Resource Management, Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
• Nationally certified WBENC Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
• Aspiring Author

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A visionary leader, speaker, educator, trainer, and human resources expert, I am dedicated to helping organizations optimize their people, processes, and performance. Passionate about equipping businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving market, I have developed innovative strategies that have helped countless organizations achieve sustainable success by fostering inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

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About HR Anew

HR Anew is a premier human resources advisory and educational firm committed to transforming workplaces through strategic EEO and HR solutions, inclusion initiatives, leadership development, and workforce innovation. With a mission to empower organizations to build strong, engaged, high-performing teams, HR Anew provides tailored solutions aligning with organizational goals and driving measurable impact. Whether it is recruitment strategy, compliance, or employee engagement, HR Anew partners with organizations to deliver excellence, speed, and sustainable growth.

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