The Art of Success: Why You Need to Close Doors to Open One
The path to success can seem like a maze of open doors. The paradox is that to achieve a breakthrough, you often need to shut many doors and focus on just one.
The path to success can seem like a maze of open doors.
The paradox is that to achieve a breakthrough, you often need to shut many doors and focus on just one.
Building experience with focusing and knowing when to concentrate your energy will profoundly affect your success trajectory.
Talking It Out
I came up in a recent conversation. The question is, do I expand my reach at the beginning to get to more people or do I really focus in?
To me, that's not even a choice. You have to focus.
Constraints make you more effective and provide a faster feedback loop.
Whether or not the niche is the right niche, you'll know very quickly and you can either adapt, adjust or exit.
The Problem of Chasing It All
Too often, we chase every shiny opportunity. We say yes to everything – jobs, hobbies, commitments.
It feels productive, but it's like spinning wheels in mud. More doesn't mean better; it often means overwhelmed.
Worse yet, it can even make success harder to achieve.
The Key: Close the Unnecessary Doors
- Pick Your One Thing: What's your top goal? The one that really matters? Focus on it like a laser beam. For me, it was writing a book – a decade-long dream.
- Shut Those Distractions: Look at all the other doors you've left open – side gigs, social events, countless hobbies. Are they helping or hindering your top goal? Be ruthless; close the ones that aren't essential.
- Commit to Your Choice: Make a pact with yourself. Your chosen goal is your VIP. Every time you say yes to something else, you're saying no to your VIP. Make that commitment worth it.
The Power of One Door
Closing doors doesn't mean limiting yourself; it means amplifying your focus.
I wanted to write a book for ages, but I kept saying yes to everything else.
Until I had a season-ending bicycle crash that I could find the time to get it done.
When I finally locked that one door, progress happened.
Closing doors is universal.
In business, it's like putting all your resources into your main project.
In life, it's about being intentional. Every closed door creates space for your success.
In relationships, it's about more time with the few people that matter.
Conclusion
Success isn't about doing everything; it's about doing the right thing.
Think about your top goal. Visualize it. Feel it.
Ask yourself, what doors can I close to make that goal achievable?
Now, let's do it!