Building Your Ride-or-Die Growth Crew

Last week’s article hit a nerve.

The Accountability Advantage had more replies, DMs, and “holy sh*t I needed this” texts than anything I’ve dropped in a while.

And the #1 thing I heard?

“Okay... but how do I actually build my crew?”

So here we are.
Because it’s one thing to realize you need support, It’s another thing to build the kind of high-performance, no bullshit crew that actually keeps you growing.

This is your tactical, step-by-step, no-excuses guide to finding your people, locking in your process, and building an ecosystem that forces you to level the hell up.

Let’s Recap: Why This Matters

Most people are still trying to change their lives with nothing but willpower and self-help quotes they half-remember from Instagram.

And as we covered in Part 1, willpower is a flaky business partner.

You need pressure.
You need proximity.
You need people who believe in your future louder than you believe in your fears.

Accountability isn’t a crutch.
It’s a power source.

Let’s build the plug.

The 7-Day “Build Your Growth Crew” Challenge

AKA: Operation Find Your Ride-or-Dies

This isn’t theory.

This is your tactical plan to stop winging your self-improvement and start building your crew like a damn professional.

Day 1 – Write the Vision (Clarity > Hype)

What kind of support do you actually need?

• What are you building?

• What patterns do you keep repeating?

• What kind of support structure would make failure damn near impossible?

You don’t need a hype squad.
You need a crew that holds your standard when you forget it exists.

Day 2 – Identify Your Draft Picks

Look around. You already know people who:

• Move with purpose

• Don’t flinch around truth

• Are chasing something real

• Make you want to be better just by being near them

You don’t need 10.
You need 2–3 max.
This is The Avengers, not a Facebook group.

Day 3 – Make the Ask (Keep It Real)

Here’s your script. Steal it:

“Hey - I’m building a small growth crew. 2-3 people max. Not a mastermind, not a support group. Just people who are chasing big stuff and holding each other accountable. You in?”

That’s it. No TED Talk required.
Lead with clarity. Land with intention.

If they say no, cool.
You’re recruiting for intensity, not convenience.

Day 4 – Lock in the Format

Pick your weapons:

• Weekly Zoom check-in?

• Daily voice note updates?

• Shared spreadsheet of shame and glory?

Make it clear. Make it consistent.
No “let’s just play it by ear” energy allowed.

Day 5 – Choose Your Weekly Questions (Start With the After Action Report)

Before you get into the big emotional breakthroughs and fluffy life coaching vibes…

Start with structure.

I recommend starting with the “After Action Report” format.

It’s simple. It’s clean. It works.

Each week, have everyone answer:

1. What did I say I’d do?

2. What actually happened?

3. What did I learn?

4. What’s next?

It builds a rhythm.
It creates clarity.
It eliminates fluff and forces ownership, fast.

Once you’ve locked that in?

Now you can layer in the more reflective stuff.

Great crews don’t just talk about the week, they talk about the identity underneath the actions.

Try questions like:

• Where did you play small this week?

• What commitment did you make… and break?

• What’s the one thing you’re resisting that would change everything?

• What’s your single biggest win, and how are you celebrating it?

Create a rhythm.
The goal isn’t more talking.
The goal is less hiding.

Day 6 – Define the Rules (And the Stakes)

Structure creates freedom.

Set the rules:

• How long are the check-ins?

• What happens if someone bails?

• What counts as a win?

Then set the stakes:

• Miss a check-in = Venmo the crew $20

• Don’t hit your weekly commitment = $5 for every commitment missed

Make it playful, but make it matter.

Day 7 – Launch It Loudly

Give the group a name.
Book your first meeting.

Set the tone:

“We’re not here to perform. We’re here to tell the truth, stay in the fire, and become the people we keep pretending we already are.”

Hit record. Hit the calendar.
This is where the next chapter starts.

Growth Crew Kickoff Script (Copy, Paste, Say It Like You Mean It)

“Alright crew, We’re not here to vibe. We’re not here to vent. We’re here to grow.

This is a space for realness. For checking ourselves. For chasing down what matters and doing it on purpose.

No fluff. No faking. No ghosting. This is the crew that makes winning inevitable.”

That’s the tone.
Say it once and mean it.
Everything else builds from there.

Make It Stick: Your Challenge This Week

If last week was about realizing the truth, this week is about locking it in.

Here’s your move:

1. Write out the support you actually need.

2. Identify 2–3 people who belong in the room.

3. Make the ask.

4. Book the first call.

5. Show up like your future self is watching.

Because they are.

The Truth You’ve Been Avoiding

You are not going to accidentally become the best version of yourself.

You’re not going to wake up one day and suddenly “have discipline.”

If you could’ve done it alone…you would’ve done it already.

So build the crew.
Set the tone.
Make it sacred.
Make it fun.
Make it real.

Your next chapter deserves a team.

Now go find them.

– Ned

P.S. Know someone trying to level up but still doing it solo and hoping for the best? Forward this to them. They’ll thank you later… I’ll thank you immediately.