The hidden cost of doing too many things slightly well

Hey, it’s Arik.

I’ve had this thought bouncing around in my head lately, and after a few conversations with some friends running 8- and 9-figure businesses, it just clicked.

So I figured I’d bring it to you here.

There’s this pattern I keep seeing (and, to be honest, have caught myself in too): we take on a ton.

There’s a hidden cost to being slightly good at a bunch of things but not world-class at one.

We spin six different plates, all at once—some client work, a side hustle, a podcast idea, a half-read book, a new routine, a maybe-project we “might launch” soon.

On paper, it seems productive and feels like the wheels are turning.

But if you zoom out for a second…

Most of the time, we’re just busy being average at a bunch of things that don’t really move us forward.

We’re putting 60% of our energy into six directions instead of 100% into one. And that doesn’t just dilute our output; it drains our clarity, creativity, and confidence too.

Unfortunately, you can't build, grow, or gain momentum if you're splitting yourself in five different directions.

When you’re halfway into everything, you never really feel in control of anything, and that comes with a cost.

Your time starts feeling chaotic, your mind is never fully present, and even your downtime doesn’t feel like rest because there’s always something unfinished in the background.

And every time I find myself in that space, I come back to the same realization: being elite at one thing beats being “pretty good” at ten because mastery compounds.

It sharpens your identity. It attracts opportunity. It builds confidence. It builds trust. And it gives your energy somewhere meaningful to land.

When you go all in on one thing—whether it’s your health, your craft, your business, or your relationships—you stop leaking progress and start stacking it.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been intentionally stepping back to fix that.

I blocked off this entire month, not to relax but to refocus.

I’ve removed myself from the daily tasks that were keeping me busy but not necessarily useful. I’ve gotten stricter about the energy I allow around me, only keeping people, projects, and conversations that align with where I’m going.

I’m zoning in on the work that actually matters: the kind that drives growth, brings in new opportunities, and moves the vision forward.

And most importantly, I’m taking the time to study what’s actually working in the market right now. Not what worked last year. Not what sounds good in theory. What’s real, what’s effective, and what creates impact today.

Because if I’m not clear, how can I expect my team to be?

1. Audit your energy.
Where are you spending mental bandwidth that isn’t compounding? Not just work, but relationships, apps, habits, clutter. Cut the noise.

2. Get brutally honest about what’s moving the needle vs. what just feels productive.
Ask yourself: If I keep doing what I’m doing now for the next 6 months, will I end up where I want to be?

3. Choose one thing to be world-class at.
Not “good,” not “above average.” World-class. Build a moat around that, and let everything else follow.

4. Shift from reactive to intentional.
That might mean saying no more often, clearing your calendar, or putting boundaries around your time. Protect the work that builds the future.

Momentum doesn’t come from managing chaos; it comes from mastering clarity. Most of the growth you’re chasing is hiding behind one bold decision to go all in.

See you next Thursday,
Arik

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