🚀 3.2.1. Iron Sharpening Iron ::: Atomic Scaling

As we dive deeper into the art of bending reality, we’ve explored what it means to be a Custodian (the vision), to master The Ultimate Game (the game). The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and play to win (the play).

Bringing your vision to life means confronting OPR - Other People’s Realities. It can be daunting, but that’s where the real fun begins. Let’s go!

3 IDEAS FROM ME

I. Have the Courage to Enter the Flight

Twenty two years ago, I was in Colombia, on a military flight, about to jump. For the first time, out of a perfectly good plane, with no instructor strapped to my back. I can still feel that moment today: the mix of the 3Fs: Fear, Focus, and absolute Freedom!

That jump became a metaphor for all the adventures that followed, in China, Silicon Valley and now Dubai. I choose to take off toward the most aligned, liberated version of myself.

Up there, beyond the noise and the limits, the sky already sketches the outline of a life that’s bigger, truer, and more alive.

As Nietzsche said, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” The running cows on that first rough landing almost did, but that’s another story ;-)

II. From Robust to Antifragile

As we enter the second stage of AI, Agentic AI, with systems that learn and improve, it’s time for entrepreneurs to do the same.

Most aim to be resilient, to endure shocks and stay strong. But resilience isn’t enough. As Nassim Taleb says, the fragile breaks, the robust resists, but the antifragile grows stronger.

As we navigate the Big Shift with its stressors, shocks, and constant volatility, our goal shouldn’t be mere survival, but evolution. Let’s become the vehicle through which change expresses itself, not the obstacle that resists it.

III. The Scaling Mindset Edge

Here's where the rubber meets the road: when you intentionally choose to face adversity with a growth mindset, resilience develops naturally.

When you face adversity with a fixed mindset, insecure leadership develops instead. The difference lies in perception. Top performers see friction as feedback, not failure.

Friction isn’t the enemy; it’s data. The best operators lean in, learn fast, and iterate under pressure. That’s how performance compounds.

2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS:

I.

“The iteration of hypothesis, changes, and measurement will make you better at a faster rate than anything else we have seen.” - Gabe Newell, Co-Founder of Valve Software (Steam, CounterStrike, Dota, etc)

II.

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Seneca, Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome and author of Letters to Lucilius

1 ACTION FOR YOU:

Ask yourself: Who did I exchange swords with this week? Who sharpened my mind, and whose mind did I sharpen?

Let's Play,

Ludovic Bodin

3x Entrepreneur, 2x Unicorn Investor, 1x IPO. Founder of BOBIC Generational Wealth and Author of Atomic Scaling

P.S. Like in a RPG, look at these 5 characters that embody the Five Domains of Post-Traumatic Growth:

1. The Warrior (Personal Strength). Who in your network has overcome massive adversity and emerged stronger?
2. The Pioneer (New Possibilities). Who sees opportunities where others see obstacles?
3. The Connector (Relating to Others). Who deepens relationships through vulnerability and shared struggle?
4. The Sage (Appreciation of Life). Who finds profound gratitude in the simple and the difficult?
5. The Seeker (Spiritual Change). Who has found deeper meaning through their trials?

Now invite them into your game. Choose one as your alter ego as you scale this week.

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PS2: Sharing on stage at the AI Summit, 7 common traits that help a 10-person Al-powered team build a billion dollar business. Still sharpening it with my new venture, BOBIC: open to a sword exchange anytime!

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

“Atomic Scaling is a treasure trove of lessons for gaming and non-gaming founders. Great insights to help navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship."

- Joseph Kim Co-founder at LILA Games & GameMakers