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Scaling a business is exciting – but let’s be real, it’s also challenging. Growing beyond the startup stage comes with new challenges like building the right team, keeping up innovation, managing operations, and staying ahead of the competition. To make that journey a little easier, here is a collection of five books on navigating the scale-up world. Packed with practical tips, real stories, and smart strategies, these reads are perfect for founders, leaders, or anyone looking to grow a business the right way.
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How to Survive in a Scale-Up Business by Vidya Murali is your go-to guide for thriving in the fast-moving, sometimes chaotic world of scale-ups. Drawing on 20+ years working with companies like Amazon and Deliveroo, Vidya shares practical tips, real stories, and tools to help you navigate high-growth environments without burning out. The book looks at everything from figuring out if a scale-up is the right fit for you, to landing the right job, surviving the first 90 days, and spotting toxic workplace patterns. Along the way, she shares lessons from industry leaders and her own experiences, helping you build emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence. It also covers taking care of yourself - mental health, inclusion, and strategies for introverts, minorities, and neurodiverse professionals - so you can thrive, even when things get tough. Whether you’re a graduate, a career switcher, a start-up founder, or part of an HR team, this book gives you the tools to not just survive but really flourish in the scale-up world.
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Scaling Up – Beginner’s Guide to Scaling Your Business by James King is a down-to-earth guide for anyone looking to grow their startup without losing their mind. King breaks down what scaling really means, the steps to take, and how smart funding can help your business grow faster while keeping things manageable. The book covers building a business that’s not just profitable, but also strong and scalable, while pointing out the risks and how to deal with them. It also explains how to use data to spot opportunities and make better decisions as your company grows. Packed with practical tips and easy-to-follow advice, this guide is perfect for founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants a simple roadmap to grow their business confidently and successfully.
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The Scale-Up Leader by Stuart Ross is all about helping business owners and leaders take their company to the next level without getting stuck. Ross shows that scaling isn’t just about processes or systems - it’s really about the leader. The right mindset, habits, and confidence are what make the difference. The book covers 10 key leadership traits every scale-up leader needs and shares practical tips for spotting opportunities, making better decisions, and actually enjoying the growth journey. You’ll also get advice on building good habits, hiring the right people, letting go of control, and developing a growth mindset. Full of real-world advice and simple, actionable strategies, this book helps leaders grow their business, stay ahead of the competition, and handle whatever challenges come their way.
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Start-up to Scale-up by Kevin R. Smith is a practical guide for anyone looking to grow their business with the right funding. Drawing on years of experience helping founders, Smith explains what investors really want and how to position your business to get the support you need. The book walks you through the key decisions, skills, and preparations that can make the difference between your business accelerating or hitting a plateau. It’s packed with realistic, step-by-step advice for becoming fundable and setting yourself up for growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to secure your next round of investment, this book helps you understand what investors are looking for and gives you the tools to grow your business confidently, and avoid common pitfalls along the way.
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Business Scale-Up by William Johnson is for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow their business smarter, not just work harder. Johnson digs into why many successful companies get stuck even when they’re profitable, and how to break out of that trap. The book introduces the “Four Keys of Scale,” practical areas to focus on so your business can grow efficiently. Follow these principles, and you can boost revenue, reduce effort, and build a business that works for you, not the other way around. Perfect for experienced businesspeople, this book goes beyond the basics, offering strategies to create more value, work smarter, and scale quickly. It’s all about making your business bigger, better, and more sustainable without burning yourself out.
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How to Survive in a Scale-Up Business by Vidya Murali is your go-to guide for thriving in the fast-moving, sometimes chaotic world of scale-ups. Drawing on 20+ years working with companies like Amazon and Deliveroo, Vidya shares practical tips, real stories, and tools to help you navigate high-growth environments without burning out. The book looks at everything from figuring out if a scale-up is the right fit for you, to landing the right job, surviving the first 90 days, and spotting toxic workplace patterns. Along the way, she shares lessons from industry leaders and her own experiences, helping you build emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence. It also covers taking care of yourself - mental health, inclusion, and strategies for introverts, minorities, and neurodiverse professionals - so you can thrive, even when things get tough. Whether you’re a graduate, a career switcher, a start-up founder, or part of an HR team, this book gives you the tools to not just survive but really flourish in the scale-up world.
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Scaling Up – Beginner’s Guide to Scaling Your Business by James King is a down-to-earth guide for anyone looking to grow their startup without losing their mind. King breaks down what scaling really means, the steps to take, and how smart funding can help your business grow faster while keeping things manageable. The book covers building a business that’s not just profitable, but also strong and scalable, while pointing out the risks and how to deal with them. It also explains how to use data to spot opportunities and make better decisions as your company grows. Packed with practical tips and easy-to-follow advice, this guide is perfect for founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants a simple roadmap to grow their business confidently and successfully.
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The Scale-Up Leader by Stuart Ross is all about helping business owners and leaders take their company to the next level without getting stuck. Ross shows that scaling isn’t just about processes or systems - it’s really about the leader. The right mindset, habits, and confidence are what make the difference. The book covers 10 key leadership traits every scale-up leader needs and shares practical tips for spotting opportunities, making better decisions, and actually enjoying the growth journey. You’ll also get advice on building good habits, hiring the right people, letting go of control, and developing a growth mindset. Full of real-world advice and simple, actionable strategies, this book helps leaders grow their business, stay ahead of the competition, and handle whatever challenges come their way.
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Start-up to Scale-up by Kevin R. Smith is a practical guide for anyone looking to grow their business with the right funding. Drawing on years of experience helping founders, Smith explains what investors really want and how to position your business to get the support you need. The book walks you through the key decisions, skills, and preparations that can make the difference between your business accelerating or hitting a plateau. It’s packed with realistic, step-by-step advice for becoming fundable and setting yourself up for growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to secure your next round of investment, this book helps you understand what investors are looking for and gives you the tools to grow your business confidently, and avoid common pitfalls along the way.
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Business Scale-Up by William Johnson is for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow their business smarter, not just work harder. Johnson digs into why many successful companies get stuck even when they’re profitable, and how to break out of that trap. The book introduces the “Four Keys of Scale,” practical areas to focus on so your business can grow efficiently. Follow these principles, and you can boost revenue, reduce effort, and build a business that works for you, not the other way around. Perfect for experienced businesspeople, this book goes beyond the basics, offering strategies to create more value, work smarter, and scale quickly. It’s all about making your business bigger, better, and more sustainable without burning yourself out.
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