By Allan Joaquin
Some years back, I had a conversation with my former boss, Mr. Julius Cruz. He is known for managing several diverse careers, and a very likeable fella. He said something that really stuck with me: focus only on something you CAN control.
At countless seminars, attendees are flooded with valuable information and expert advice. The resources are top-notch, the strategies are sound, and the opportunities seem endless. But instead of getting inspired, many people freeze. They leave with great tools and ideas but never move forward, paralyzed by choice.
Sir Julius’ insight is simple but powerful. When we’re bombarded with possibilities, we hesitate. Having to choose between a dozen equally appealing options can lead to decision paralysis.
My former college professor used to put it this way: “A lion chasing two zebras ends up catching none and goes hungry.” His point was clear. Pick one path. Focus. Follow through.
You might recognize this cycle from your own online habits. How many eBooks have you bought recently about online marketing or making money?
Chances are, you were excited about each one. You believed in the strategies. But before you could follow through, another sales page caught your eye, promising something even better. And so, another eBook lands in your inbox, full of promise and yet adding to the pile of unread or unfinished resources.
Soon you are surrounded by options: business ideas, affiliate programs, website templates. All of them seem worth pursuing, but there’s so much to choose from that it’s hard to start.
My mother had a simple response when she saw me stalling: “You can’t do everything first.” That advice still applies.
If you are staring at a list of great ideas and wondering where to begin, the truth is, it does not matter. If they are all solid choices, just pick one. Close your eyes and choose randomly if you have to.
The key is to act. Once you get moving, clarity tends to follow.
Starting a business or launching a new project might feel intimidating, but let us put that in perspective. Wrestling a grizzly or jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Now that is scary.
Starting a business? That is just unfamiliar. And unfamiliar does not mean impossible.
Often, people hesitate not because they lack ability but because they feel unsure about new territory. They think they cannot make the right choice. But they can.
Here is a simple way to ease the pressure: Take your list of options and remove anything that clearly does not belong. With the rest, assume they are equally viable.
Now take one item. Just one. Write it on a fresh sheet of paper. That is your next step.
Forget the others for now. Focus on this one task. The rest will still be there when you’re done.
This approach clears the mental fog. It replaces overwhelm with action. And action is what separates those who succeed from those who stall. Making progress does not require perfect decisions. It just requires forward movement.