In my social circles, I am infamously known for shortcuts. Need to find the fastest route to the Jersey shore? The best burgers from In-n-Out’s secret menu? The easiest way to avoid eye contact with that dude on the M Train? I’m your guy!

To strengthen your inner hacker, my team and I just read marketing maven Ryan Holiday’s “Growth Hacker Marketing.” To spare you the pain of actually reading a book, below are our favorite takes:

“A growth hacker doesn’t see marketing as something one does, but rather as something one builds into the product itself.”

The chapters of this book follow that structure of “You are not what you are, you are what you do.” We as marketers need to not only kickstart a new way of thinking but share and optimize (while repeating as necessary with growth in mind.

“And that advertisement was effective not because it was cute or creative but because it showcased an amazing product that many people wanted and needed.”

You know how they say beauty fades? Well so does the clutter. With content flooding, social feeds a mile a millisecond, how does your messaging aim to rise above channels that are inundated with noise.

“Growth hacking is more of a mind-set than a tool kit.”

There are no trade secrets to guard. Instagram grew from being a FourSquare idea to the world’s leading image and content provider. Aaron Ginn, Mitt Romney’s technology consultant for his presidential campaign is now director of growth at StumbleUpon. Never be afraid to take your mindset to new heights!

“Instead, they treated their product and service as something malleable and were able to change and improve it until they found its best iteration.”

Find the courage to tell yourself no. Heck, even use the Socratic method on yourself. Question everything you do. Every day that ends in “why.” (See what I did there?)

Because questions lead to answers, and answers lead to the inevitable truth. A little something to reflect or react can lead to your next great idea!

“No longer content to let the development happen as it happens, we can influence it with input, with rules and guidelines, and with feedback.”

No matter what the industry says, you have the control. You are in the driver seat, well more like a tandem bicycle.

Don’t confuse activity with productivity. Every “life hack” and “side hustle” must serve a greater purpose. Your growth, your career, your service to the industry and your team.

So what are some hacks you find in your life? Is there a definitive way to grow? What’s the next wild buzzword of? Let’s discuss!