How Focusing on One Small Thing Creates Leverage and Lasting Growth
The team at Photobucket started their project with every intention of building the next big photo-sharing platform. Their website had galleries, messaging, themes—‘the kitchen sink,’ as the saying goes. Yet, as their user logs piled up and a few support emails trickled in, something odd stuck out. Users were stubbornly sharing photobucket links on eBay, LiveJournal, and MySpace—sites the Photobucket team hadn’t designed for.
At first, it felt wrong to support this behavior. But, after a few late-night analytics review sessions fueled by bad coffee, the founders did something unusual: they made it easier for users to embed photos elsewhere. Usage skyrocketed, support emails turned into donations, and the platform’s reputation exploded organically.
The insight? Winning startups—along with winning individuals—become best in the world at one thing before broadening. Behavioral science terms this 'deep work' and specialization: focusing effort and attention in a single direction makes improvement compounding, because feedback is tight and results are meaningful. Only once mastery or clear demand is achieved do high-performers add new layers or expand their arsenal.
Look at everything on your plate—offerings, projects, tasks, even side goals. Now, pick the one thing you do so well that others would notice immediately if it disappeared. Ruthlessly trim away features, tasks, or ambitions that distract from this focus, even if it feels uncomfortable or risky. Practice summarizing your core focus in one simple sentence and repeat it whenever you’re tempted to add 'the kitchen sink.' Sharpening your focus isn’t small-minded, it’s your first step toward market strength and sustainable growth. Give this a shot in your next project.
What You'll Achieve
Increase clarity, reduce wasted effort, and achieve breakthrough growth by narrowing focus and building from a position of distinctive strength. Experience more satisfaction and stamina thanks to focused progress.
Shrink Your Scope to Level Up Impact
Identify your one essential value.
Ask yourself: What is the single thing your project, product, or role delivers better than anyone else? Clarify and write it down.
Cut non-core features or activities.
List your current features, offerings, or responsibilities. Cross out anything that isn’t central to your main focus—even if it’s 'nice to have.'
Communicate your core clearly.
Test explaining your focus to a friend or colleague in a sentence. Iterate until it’s sharp and distinctive.
Reflection Questions
- What’s the one thing your users, customers, or colleagues truly love?
- What activities or features could you stop doing to create more impact?
- How would you explain your focus to a stranger in a single sentence?
- What’s the risk of spreading your attention too thin?
Personalization Tips
- A student group focuses on organizing one impactful annual event instead of many small ones.
- A consultant markets just one specialized service (like resume makeovers) instead of a broad menu.
- A coffee shop highlights its single signature blend instead of expanding into food items.
Do More Faster: Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup
Ready to Take Action?
Get the Mentorist app and turn insights like these into daily habits.