The F Word

No, not that one.
(Although we’ll get there.)

The F word I want to talk about is Focus.

Because focus is wildly underrated, deeply uncomfortable, and—if we’re honest—often avoided in favour of something that feels better in the moment:

Options.

Options feel sophisticated.
Options feel safe.
Options make us feel clever and considered.

Options also quietly keep us stuck.

When good thinking becomes a mess

I recently coached someone (details changed, story intact) who was facing what looked like a great problem to have.

Multiple job pathways.
Different cities.
Family considerations.
Career progression.
Lifestyle trade-offs.

On paper? Abundance.
In reality? Paralysis.

Every option was “kind of right.”
Every option had a reasonable case.
Every option created just enough doubt to stall the next step.

This is where many high-functioning, thoughtful people end up:

• Overanalysing

• Re-running scenarios

• Waiting for certainty that never arrives

• And slowly leaking energy while calling it “being responsible.”

Big vision first (zoom out before you zoom in)

The first thing we did was zoom out.

Not next month.
Not the next job.
But the 2–3 year vision.

Where do you actually want your life to be heading?
Not perfectly. Not forever. Just directionally.

When we held each option up against that longer-term view—career, relationships, home—the picture became clearer. Not obvious. But clearer.

Some options scored well emotionally.
Some scored well practically.
One scored best overall.

Not because it was perfect.
But because it aligned.

That’s an important distinction.

The power of short, committed bursts

Once the bigger direction was chosen, the next move wasn’t “lock it in forever.”

It was:
Commit for 3–9 months.

Long enough to build momentum.
Short enough to not feel like a life sentence.

This is where the other C word comes in.

No, not that one either.
(I swear you’re obsessed.)

I’m talking about Commitment.

Commitment doesn’t mean you’re trapped.
It means you stop half-living five lives at once.

You give one path your attention long enough for it to respond.

Why too many options kill momentum

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most people don’t fail because they chose the wrong option.
They fail because they never chose one fully.

They keep:

• Browsing jobs in three cities

• Mentally rehearsing backup plans

• Keeping doors “just in case”

Which sounds smart… until you realise it divides your energy.

It’s like having 127 browser tabs open, music playing somewhere, and wondering why your laptop is overheating.

Focus isn’t about having fewer possibilities.
It’s about having fewer active ones.

Closing tabs is not failure

Closing doors feels scary because it triggers a story:
“What if I’m wrong?”

But here’s the reframe I offered in the session:

Any decision is a good decision—because it allows you to focus.

Focus is what creates movement.
Movement creates feedback.
Feedback creates better decisions.

Indecision creates… more indecision.

Where the magic actually happens

Not in the grand plan.
Not in the perfect vision board.

The magic happens in the next small, committed action.

One thing for:

• Career

• Relationships

• Home

Small. Doable. Slightly exciting.

When you’re committed, tiny steps compound quickly.
When you’re hedging, even big plans go nowhere.

The real F word

So yes—options are great.
Vision matters.
Planning helps.

But the real unlock?

Focus.

Focus on the direction you’ve chosen.
Focus on the season you’re in.
Focus on the next little thing you can actually do.

Because clarity doesn’t come before commitment.

It comes after.

And if you’re stuck right now, it’s probably not because you lack options.

It’s because you haven’t said yes to one of them long enough for it to work.