What’s Holding You Back? Cut the Noise, Keep the Essential

You feel overwhelmed.

Drained and exhausted because you feel like you’re doing too much, but not enough at the same time.

You’re very ambitious, but you feel pulled in all kinds of directions…

Today I’ll share with you why it’s important to understand: You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.

The pursuit of great aspirations demands clarity, discipline, and the ability to filter out distractions that don’t serve your purpose. 

I’ll highlight some practical ways to narrow your focus, but first let me share with you a conversation I had that helped me discover this lesson.

Become the editor of your life

My team and I were working on a documentary project and were at a stand still in the edit.

We were having a difficult time trying to figure out the flow of the story for one particular scene.

Storytelling is an art and the way you deliver a story can either make or break it’s impact.

I reached out to a filmmaker that I highly respect—This individual has a unique way of packaging stories and sharing them in an impactful way.

I visited him and brought my laptop to show the rough cut of the project.

He sits down and starts watching the short film—His eyes are fully locked on the screen. Examining every detail.

After he wraps up the review of the scene, I ask…“What’d you think?”

He pauses for a moment, and says…“It was insightful and entertaining…but was it essential?”

I didn’t really understand what he was asking, and my facial expression probably made it noticeable.

“Simply put, does this scene reveal more about the character or move the plot forward?”—he says as he points toward the laptop.

As I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that this scene wasn’t essential…it was just full of some clips that I was emotionally connected to.

He says…“Well, if it’s not essential…then you have to cut it from the project. It may be difficult but it will better the film in the long run.”

And as I thought about this lesson in editing and storytelling…I later realized that this is also true in life…

If things aren’t moving you forward or revealing more about life’s journey to you—Then why are you doing them? 

As a leader, focusing your energy and attention on what truly matters is essential for clarity, impact, and sustained progress. 

In a world full of distractions and competing demands, the ability to identify and commit to the essential will help you align with your core values and long-term vision. 

To be effective…We have to commit to the essential.

This is what moves the needle towards achieving our goals.

And by committing to the essential—You conserve your most valuable resources: time, energy, and focus.

There’s things that we focus on, direct our energy towards, or spend our time doing that simply drain us—Stunting our productivity.

We have to cut those things out of our lives to reach new and greater levels of achievement. 

Focusing on the essential will not only accelerate your progress but it will also help you show up to opportunities more effectively.

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:

Here are 3 practical strategies that will help you commit to what’s essential:

1. Clarify What Your Goals AreDefine a clear vision of what success looks like for you—personally and professionally. When you know exactly what you're aiming for, it's easier to filter out distractions and stay focused on the actions that truly matter.

   
   

2. Design a “Must-Do” SystemEach week, identify the 2–3 key actions that will move you closest to your goals. Build your schedule around these priorities and treat them as non-negotiable commitments.

   
   

3. Review and ReflectSet aside time (weekly or monthly) to review how you're spending your time and energy. Ask yourself: Is this aligned with my biggest goals? Have the self-discipline to adjust or pivot when you notice a lack of focus.

   
   

REMEMBER: Impactful leadership lies in purpose, discipline, and the courage to say no to the nonessential.