Startups don’t fail because they miss an opportunity.
They fail because they spread themselves too thin across too many. The orbits around a founder — rebranding into AI startup, chasing buzzword narratives, rushing fundraising, striking partnerships for PR, over-hiring, or stacking features — all feel urgent in the moment. Each appears as opportunity, but they’re really just the gravitational pulls of FOMO.
The cost of chasing is dilution:
Diluted focus — as energy is spread too thin.
Diluted capital — unknowingly burned on premature hires or hype projects.
Diluted credibility — when decisions don’t stick, or only execute on the surface.
For a founder defining vision, or a strategy and operations lead leading priorities, the gravitational pulls look something like this:
Now, this analogy may be easier to grasp if we apply it to personal life. I’ll use my own as an example: at 23, nearly a year into my career, I’m still early enough to switch paths — but it’s also the stage where every option feels urgent and every opportunity looks tempting.
The cost of chasing is dilution — the same, just in different forms.
Diluted focus — energy scattered across too many paths, leaving you too tired to go all-in on one.
Diluted finances — money spent on trends, credentials, or moves that don’t compound.
Diluted identity — choices made for appearances, to look a certain way rather than to align with who you are.
Discipline isn’t just about choosing which waves to ride; it’s about sticking with them long enough to see results. Just as a startup will fail when its focus is diluted, our own goals go unrealized when we can’t stay committed and resist the noise of distraction.
Before you consider how to resist dilution in your company — whether it’s a startup or a project — it starts with yourself. If you can build the discipline to focus, to say no, and to prioritize opportunities in your own life, you’ll be far better equipped to do the same as a founder, whether that’s the role you hold today or the one you aspire to.
FOMO makes everything feel urgent. Discipline reminds you that compounding comes from focus, not from the chase.
If chasing too many opportunities dilutes a company, it will dilute your life too. Focus is what makes both compound.