Stop chasing every idea - find the right one fast
Save time and focus with 5 simple questions.
It’s funny how a single decision can change everything.
I was on a call with an old high school friend, and he’d just pitched me a business idea. Solid idea, the numbers lined up, and his track record of success added weight to it. Normally, I would’ve jumped at the chance.
But this time, the words, “I don’t have the bandwidth right now,” came out of my mouth before I even realized it.
In that moment, my friend was as surprised as I was. My business at the time wasn’t exactly thriving - it was a constant swing between fleeting highs and long lows that make you wonder if it’s even worth it. Whenever I got stuck, my instinct was to look elsewhere for what I thought would be a more profitable option.
That’s how I’d ended up talking to my friend about his new idea in the first place.
But I could feel it: I was already stretched so thin. Despite the challenges in my business, I had a nagging feeling that the breakthrough was just around the corner. If I committed to his business idea, I’d be adding even more to my plate and risking what little progress I had made.
So, I said no. And a month later, an opportunity landed that completely transformed my business - an opportunity I would’ve missed if I’d been chasing something else.
Did you know that small businesses who stick to their core offering see a 47% greater return on capital compared to those that diversify too quickly?
When you want nothing more than to build a business that gets you out of your job, while having every type of business model marketed to you as the ‘fastest’ one to success, it’s easy to forget that the best results come from focusing on a single plan.
By aligning your side hustle with your existing commitments, you’re not only maximizing your limited hours; you’re setting yourself up for steady, sustainable growth.
To avoid spreading yourself too thin, try using my F.O.C.U.S. Framework to evaluate whether a side hustle idea fits your current bandwidth:
F – Fit with Your Current Goals: Does this business support or distract from your main objectives?
O – Opportunity Cost: What will you need to give up to make room for this side hustle?
C – Capacity: Are you able to give this new idea the time and energy it needs?
U – Upside: Does the potential payoff justify the investment of your time and effort?
S – Sustainability: Can you realistically maintain both this and your existing commitments?
Why This Works
By applying these questions to each new opportunity presented to you, you save yourself from the constant tug-of-war between shiny new ideas and the work that actually drives your success. Staying focused in one direction, rather than splitting your energy, allows you to make real moves towards being able to seamlessly leave your 9-5.
Here’s What You’ll Get Out of It:
Clarity in Decision-Making: You'll stop second-guessing every opportunity that comes your way and start focusing on what truly matters for your goals.
More Energy for What Counts: By saying no to distractions, you’ll have more time and mental bandwidth to give your current business the effort it deserves.
Better Results Over Time: Staying consistent allows small wins to compound, paving the way for major breakthroughs.
“Sometimes, the best opportunities are the ones you turn down.”
Your Turn
Look at your side hustle options and ask yourself, “Is this actually helping me focus, or is it just spreading me thin?”
Identify one opportunity you’re currently juggling that may be more distraction than value.
Apply the F.O.C.U.S. framework to figure out if you should ‘build it’ or ‘shelve it’.
You might be surprised at how much faster you’ll move when your energy isn’t split in a dozen different directions.