“You can do anything, but you can’t do EVERYTHING.”
I recently wrote a blog post on the implicit number of “NO’s” hidden within every “YES” we provide to impending opportunities (you can find that post here). Essentially, every time you say “YES” to an opportunity or activity, you are saying “NO” to dozens of other activities and opportunities, due to time constraints and prioritization.
A singular phrase, comprised of three words, really captures the sentiment of the linked blog post, but wasn’t clearly identified in that post. What is this phrase? Look no further than the title of this blog post – “burden of opportunity!”
Yes … it is entirely possible to be burdened by too much opportunity. Many entrepreneurs try to expand too quickly, or extend into new product or service lines, without fully developing their core business and competencies. It is entirely possible to have too much of a good thing, which leaves you in a predicament where an initially good thing becomes your undoing.
Water is needed to sustain your life. In fact, up to 60% of the human body is comprised of water. However, if you consume too much water too quickly, you may develop water intoxication, which can be fatal. Too much of a good thing can eradicate the underpinnings of that good thing.
See the connection? There may be some wisdom in the proverb, “Everything in moderation.” The wisdom from this proverb is limited to the notion that we must prevent ourselves from engaging unhealthful behavior to our demise, or from engaging healthful behavior to a level where the behavior becomes unhealthful.
However, if you really were to perform “everything in moderation,” you wouldn’t be anything more than average. Mediocre. Ordinary. In order to be extraordinary in anything, you must allocate more time, effort, and resources to that particular endeavor than you allocate to other endeavors. The more time, effort, and resources you can allocate, the closer you become to attaining “extraordinary” status. But if you pursue your endeavor to the detriment of other competing priorities (such as your health or family), or to the detriment of the endeavor itself (evidenced in burnout, diminished creativity, or myopia), you may find yourself becoming progressively below-average in multiple areas of your life.
My recommendation? Develop a hybrid between “everything in moderation” and “be obsessed.” Allocate an appropriate amount of time, effort, and resources to become extraordinary in your particular endeavor, but exercise discipline and self-awareness in how much you allocate to that endeavor. Be purposeful, passionate, and persistent … and be particular in how your pursuit is impacting all other components of your life. Frequently take the time to reflect, readjust, and realign your pursuit. Ensure that your chosen endeavor is not harming other important parts of your life – or, at the very least, understand just how much discomfort, unbalance, or harm you’re willing to sacrifice for the fruition of your endeavor. Everything has its price … what’s yours? (Granted, there’s always a way to “balance” your extraordinary pursuit with other elements of your life, but this type of balance requires a lot of thought, evaluation, and work. Some people are perfectly fine with sacrificing other parts of their lives for a particular pursuit – if you’re one of those people, make sure to draw a fine line that you are unwilling to cross.)
Be clear in your mission, establish your goals, and persistently execute your goals. Saying “no” to activities and opportunities that are inconsistent with your mission will allow you to accomplish your mission, further enhance your mission, and pursue a future mission! Don’t get lost in the sea of opportunity – craft your boat, lead your crew, and set sail to your chosen destination. Stay on the path and you’ll see the shores sooner than you think.
