Simple Scales: Steve Jobs 3-Part Business Growth Framework
By: Jon Dwoskin
We overcomplicate business.
We chase the next strategy, the latest tech, the best funnel, the biggest hack.
But growth—sustainable, scalable growth—starts with simplicity.
Steve Jobs had a concept he used often: Draw a stick figure (the customer). Draw a box (your product or service). Draw a thought bubble (what the customer wants).
That’s it.
That’s the business.
Jobs used this to remind teams to:
- Focus on user experience first
- Keep the product intuitive and simple
- Design from the user backward, not the tech forward
This visual helped strip away unnecessary complexity and forced Apple teams to think clearly and empathetically.
As a business coach, here’s what I share with clients: The simpler you get, the faster you grow.
Here’s how to apply the Simple Stick model to grow your business:
1. Draw your customer. Who are they? What do they care about? Be honest. Be specific.
2. Draw your product. Are you solving their problem directly? Or are you adding fluff?
3. Draw their thought bubble. What’s the real outcome they want? Not what you think they want. What they’re actually craving.
Then…
4. Erase everything else. If it doesn’t serve the stick figure and the thought bubble, cut it.
No need to scale complexity. Scale simplicity.
That’s what creates clarity, momentum, and results.
You don’t need a 100-page strategy. You need a stick figure, a box, and a bubble.
Want help drawing yours to get Unstuck and Think BIG?
THINK BIG!
JD
Think BIG!
The Jon Dwoskin Experience
