Have you ever heard of the term ‘Radical Incrementalism?’
It’s a concept first introduced by legal scholar Cass Sunstein in his 1999 book ‘One Case at a Time: Judicial Minimalism on the Supreme Court’
He advocates for a judicial approach that emphasises making narrow, case-specific decisions rather than broad, sweeping rulings.
He argues that such incremental steps allow the law to evolve thoughtfully, accommodating new information and societal changes without causing abrupt disruptions.
But ‘Radical Incrementalism’ is not limited to the legal system.
It applies perfectly to building a solo business.
At its core, it means this:
– Start with a big, transformative vision
– Move toward it in small, deliberate steps
– Learn, adapt, and improve along the way
The idea is a quiet rebellion against two extremes:
– The overwhelm of total reinvention
– The slow drift of aimless tweaks
Instead, Radical Incrementalism says:
“Make small bets, work smartly, toward a bold goal.”
And it works beautifully for building my newsletter business.
Here’s how I’ve applied it (and how you can too):
Big vision: Build a writing-based business from my expertise on Substack
Tiny actions:
– Write 2 Notes a day
– Test a paid offer with 10 readers
– Create a simple lead magnet
– Build one automation, not five
In the past 34 days, I gained 612 subscribers, including 20 paid using this exact approach.
No hacks, no funnels, just small strategic actions stacked daily.
You don’t need perfect timing or a 6-month plan.
You need one courageous step today
and another one tomorrow.
That’s Radical Incrementalism in action.
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