Alex Pfeffer
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Growth1 min read

What Is Growth Engineering and Why Should Creatives Care?

February 5, 2026

When people hear "growth engineering," they think of Silicon Valley startups optimizing conversion funnels. That is part of it. But the core idea is much simpler and more powerful than that.

Growth engineering is the practice of building repeatable, measurable systems that drive business growth. Instead of hoping for the best, you design for outcomes.

Why creatives need this

Creative businesses have a unique problem. The work itself is deeply personal, but the business of getting and keeping clients is deeply systematic. Most creatives are great at the first part and terrible at the second.

Growth engineering bridges that gap. It gives you a framework for:

  • Acquiring clients without feeling like you are selling out
  • Retaining relationships through consistent delivery and communication
  • Scaling your income without working twice as hard

The mindset shift

The biggest change is moving from reactive to proactive. Instead of waiting for the phone to ring, you build a system that makes it ring. Instead of hoping clients come back, you create an experience that ensures they do.

This does not require a technical background. It requires the willingness to think systematically about your business, the same way you think systematically about your craft.

Getting started

Start by asking one question: what is the biggest bottleneck in my business right now? Is it finding clients? Closing deals? Managing projects? Delivering on time?

Pick one. Build a system for it. Measure whether it works. Iterate.

That is growth engineering. And it works whether you are a tech startup or a solo composer.

Alex Pfeffer

Alex Pfeffer

Composer · Growth Engineer

20+ years composing for film, TV, and games. Now building growth systems for creative businesses. I write about what I learn along the way.

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