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Growth Driver Framework

Identify and Rank Activities by Impact and Cost

Why Founders Need This Framework

As a founder... you face a constant challenge - deciding where to spend your limited time, money, and energy.

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Every day, you're pulled in different directions...

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  • Should you launch a new product or improve the current one?

  • Do you double down on marketing or invest in team development?

  • Is that 'big opportunity' really worth it, or just another distraction?

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Without a clear way to evaluate these choices, you risk...

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  • Wasting money on low-value projects

  • Spreading your team too thin

  • Chasing shiny ideas that don't actually move the business forward

  • Feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what to prioritise

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The Growth Driver Framework helps you cut through the noise and focus only on activities that will drive real, sustainable growth without the waste.

The Goal of the Growth Driver Framework is Clear, Confident Decision-Making

When you use this framework, you'll be able to...

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  • See exactly which activities have the biggest potential impact

  • Identify hidden costs that may drain your business

  • Make confident decisions about where to invest and where to stop wasting resources

  • Create a growth plan that's streamlined, focused, and actionable

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This process gives you clarity and control, so every action you take moves you closer to your North Star vision.

The Four Zones of Decision-Making

  • Zone - High Impact, Low Cost

    • Meaning - The sweet spot... big wins without big spend.

    • What to Do - Prioritise immediately.

  • Zone - High Impact, High Cost

    • Meaning - Worth doing if it aligns with your vision.

    • What to Do - Plan carefully and manage risk.

  • Zone - Low Impact, Low Cost

    • Meaning - Small improvements or quick fixes.

    • What to Do - Do only if you have extra capacity.

  • Zone - Low Impact, High Cost

    • Meaning - Wasteful activities.

    • What to Do - Stop or avoid completely.

Step-by-Step Process of the Growth Driver Framework

Step 1: List All Potential Activities

Gather everything you're currently doing, and considering doing - in one place.


Include marketing, sales, operations, product development, customer experience, and internal projects.

Step 2: Score Each Activity

For every activity, score...

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  • Impact (1–5) - 1 = minimal impact, 5 = game-changing impact

  • Cost (1–5) - 1 = very low cost, 5 = very high cost

Step 3: Let the Framework Calculate the Score

The Growth Driver Framework sheet will...

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  • Rank each activity

  • Highlight the highest-value opportunities

  • Flag the biggest drains on resources

Step 4: Make Decisions with Confidence

  • Focus on High Impact, Low Cost activities first.

  • Carefully plan High Impact, High Cost activities.

  • Drop anything in Low Impact, High Cost.

  • Use Low Impact, Low Cost tasks sparingly.

Download Your Growth Driver Framework

This growth driver framework tool helps you make smarter, faster decisions about where to spend your time and money...

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>>> Download the Growth Driver Framework →

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What's inside the file?

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  • Instructions Tab

    • Step-by-step guidance on scoring and decision-making.

    • Clear explanations of the four zones:

      • High Impact, Low Cost

      • High Impact, High Cost

      • Low Impact, Low Cost

      • Low Impact, High Cost

  • Blank Framework Tab

    • Space for 15 activities or projects.

    • Built-in formulas to calculate:

      • Total Score automatically

      • Recommended Zone automatically

  • Demo Example Tab

    • Pre-filled with realistic founder activities:

      • Launching a referral programme

      • Automating email follow-ups

      • Redesigning a website

      • Stopping wasteful paid ads

      • Improving customer support

    • Each example shows how to score and interpret results.

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This file helps you identify and rank business activities by impact and cost, so you can focus your energy and resources on what really drives growth.

The Downloadable Growth Driver Framework

This framework is ready for you to use in Excel, Google Sheets, or your preferred spreadsheet tool.

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When populated, your framework will look something like...

Growth Driver Framework

Next Steps After Filling in Your Growth Driver Framework

Once you've downloaded and filled in your growth driver framework...

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>>> Follow 'Step 3: Build a Priority Roadmap' on the 'Refocus' page →


Or visit the Founders Resource Hub to download other tools to help you to grow without the waste.

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