By Paul Yung
Every month when I sit down to write, I reflect on the patterns I’m seeing not just in business, but in people.
Lately, one pattern keeps showing up, everyone wants to do everything. Everyone wants to have a founder or a co-founder tag on their socials. New idea, jump in. New opportunity, explore. New partnership, why not? Split attention is often the biggest reason nothing really takes off.
I’ve seen this across industries and at every level. Founders starting three businesses at once, leaders chasing every new trend, teams working on ten projects but finishing none well. When clarity is lost, so is momentum.
Here’s the paradox. At the beginning, lack of focus prevents growth. Later, success itself becomes the distraction.
Once something starts working, the next temptation comes. Expansion to more outlets. Diversification to other products.
New markets, new products. On paper, it sounds like growth. In reality, it can be dilution.
Just because something is working doesn’t mean it’s ready to scale in every direction. In fact, that’s often when discipline matters the most.
Nintendo is one of my favourite case studies on the power of refocus. Many of us grew up with Nintendo. From Mario to Zelda, they defined childhood for millions around the world, but what many don’t realise is that not too long ago, Nintendo was struggling.
After the massive success of the Wii, which sold over 100 million units, Nintendo followed up with the Wii U. It flopped.
The Wii U sold only about 13 million units globally. A combination of confusing product positioning, lack of developer support, and trying to compete in too many directions cost them dearly. At that point, Nintendo had a choice. Double down on trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft on hardware power, graphics, and online ecosystems, or go back to what made them special.
They chose focus. Instead of chasing the industry, they leaned into their strengths. Unique gameplay, iconic characters and a family-friendly entertainment. Simplicity that anyone could pick up and enjoy. The result was the Nintendo Switch.
A hybrid console that could be played at home or on the go. Not the most powerful machine on the market, but one of the most fun. Backed by strong titles like The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing, the Switch went on to sell over 125 million units. Nintendo didn’t win by doing more. They won by doing what they do best.
Now let’s look at what happens when there is a lack of focus. Quibi was launched in 2020 with nearly USD 1.75 billion in funding. The idea was short-form premium video content for mobile devices. Big-name founders, Hollywood talent, massive capital. On paper, it looked like a sure win. But here’s where focus was lost.
Instead of mastering one clear value proposition, Quibi tried to compete with Netflix, YouTube, and other social media platforms all at once. They offered short form premium content. High production mobile only videos. Subscription based membership, targeting users used to free content.
The result was mass confusion. Within six months, Quibi shut down. Chances are you’ve never even heard of them.
Despite the funding, the talent, and the timing, it failed to establish a clear, focused identity in the market.
Same ambition, very different outcome.
The difference was not opportunity. It was focus. Focus is not about saying no to bad ideas. That’s easy.
It’s about saying no to good ideas, so you can fully commit to the great one.
In business, resources are always finite. Time, energy, capital, attention. When we spread these too thin, even great ideas underperform. When we concentrate them, average ideas can become exceptional. This applies not just to founders, but to teams, leaders, and even individuals. Where focus goes, energy grows.
But let me be clear. This is not a call to be rigid or fearful of growth. Growth is necessary. Expansion is part of the journey. The key, is timing and intention. Before you expand, ask yourself. Have I truly maximised my core? Is the foundation strong enough to support the next level twice over? Just in case there are unexpected hiccups along the way. Or am I chasing something new because I’m bored, distracted, or feeling stuck? Sometimes, what feels like a need for expansion is actually a need for deeper execution.
Go back to the basics. Refine. Improve. Strengthen. In many cases, the next level of growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing better. F.O.C.U.S. – Follow One Course Until Successful. Simple, but not easy.
It requires patience in a world that rewards speed. Discipline in a world full of noise. And conviction when everyone else is chasing the next shiny object. But if you can master this, you’ll find something powerful. Clarity. Momentum. Results.
And most importantly, you’ll build something that lasts. Wishing you a focused and successful May.
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