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Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, and Icons Accelerate Success

by Shane Snow · 2014

In a nutshell

Shane Snow's exploration of how successful people and companies take unconventional shortcuts to achieve breakthrough results faster.

Overview

Smartcuts reveals how innovators and entrepreneurs achieve extraordinary results by taking lateral, nonlinear approaches rather than conventional step-by-step paths.

Key Smartcuts

  • Hacking the Ladder: Finding unconventional paths to the top
  • Training with Masters: Learning from the best
  • Rapid Feedback: Quick iteration cycles
  • Platforms: Leveraging existing systems
  • Waves: Catching momentum
  • Superconnectors: Accessing key networks
  • Momentum: Building and maintaining velocity
  • Simplicity: Removing complexity
  • 10x Thinking: Aiming for breakthroughs, not incremental gains

Examples

  • How Jimmy Fallon became a late-night host
  • How Elon Musk learns so quickly
  • How Barack Obama became president

Available for approximately $15-25.

Reference

Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, and Icons Accelerate Success — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.

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