Scattered Goals Are Killing Your Influence

Author

Girvin
August 18, 2025

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The most influential people I know have this one thing in common:

When you ask them what they're working on, they give you one clear answer.

Not a list.
Not options.
Not "it depends."

One thing.

The mediocre leaders?

They'll spend ten minutes explaining their various initiatives, strategic pivots, and optimization projects.

❝

The successful warrior is the average man with laser-like focus.

Often attributed to Bruce Lee

I used to think the people with one clear answer were just simplifying for my benefit.

Surely they had as many moving parts as everyone else?

Then I started paying closer attention.

They weren't simplifying.

They had actually made the hard choice to focus on one priority while everyone else was hedging their bets across seven.

That singular focus wasn't limiting their influence.
It was creating it.

Focus Creates Influence (Without Trying)

When you demonstrate the ability to:

  • Identify what has the biggest impact (good judgment)

  • Stay focused on it consistently (discipline)

  • Execute without getting distracted (reliability)

  • Communicate it clearly (leadership)

Others naturally see you as someone who:

  • Makes sound decisions under complexity

  • Can be trusted with important responsibilities

  • Gets meaningful results instead of just staying busy

  • Knows how to prioritize when everything seems urgent

Influence isn't the goal. It's the byproduct of focused execution on high-impact work.

Scattered Goals Quietly Kill Influence

When your focus is scattered, here’s what people pick up on:

  • You can’t—or won’t—make hard decisions

  • You might bail when something shinier comes along

  • You change direction based on whatever’s urgent today

They start thinking:

  • “If they can’t prioritize their own goals, how will they help me with mine?”

  • “If I invest now, will they still be focused next month?”

And honestly? They’re right to wonder.

I’ve been on both sides of that.
I’ve been the one quietly doubting someone else’s focus.
And I’ve been the one other people doubted.

Neither feels good.

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The Shift: Singular Focus

When you (and I mean you, me, anyone) commit to one clear priority:

  • People know exactly what we stand for

  • Our decisions feel predictable, which builds trust

  • Others can see where they fit in our vision

  • We execute faster

  • Our results speak louder than our pitches

Clarity isn’t just about getting more done.
It’s about making it easier for people to believe in you.

For me, it felt like flipping a switch.

Decisions got easier. Opportunities either fit or they didn’t; no more second-guessing.

And because I wasn’t splitting my attention across seven different directions, my progress actually showed.

It’s not about getting more done.

It’s about making it obvious, both to yourself and to others, what you’re building and why it matters.

The Magic Wand Method: From Scattered to Focused

If you’re staring at a dozen competing priorities right now, here’s exactly how I cut through the noise.

the magicians magic GIF by SYFY

Gif by oscars on Giphy

Step 1: Do a 10-Goal Brain Dump

Grab a piece of paper (or open a doc) and write down 10 goals you’d love to achieve in the next 12 months.

Write them in present tense: “I lead a profitable business” instead of “I want to start a business.”

It forces your brain to picture it as real, not hypothetical.

Step 2: Ask The Magic Wand Question

Look at your list and ask yourself: "If I had a magic wand and could achieve ONE of these in the next 24 hours, which would have the biggest positive impact (on my life, work, mission, etc)?"

Don’t overthink it; your gut answer is probably right.

Circle that goal. That's your singular focus.

Step 3: Turn it Into Action

Take that one goal and:

  1. Write it down clearly so you can repeat it without hesitation.

  2. Set a concrete “public” deadline - Deadlines create urgency and accountability. Telling someone creates instant accountability.

  3. List every action needed to achieve the one goal

  4. Organize the list into a step-by-step checklist

  5. Take immediate action (not tomorrow—today)

  6. Do something every day and update your progress regularly so people can see the momentum

By the time you’ve done this, your priority won’t just be clear.

It’ll be in motion.

Funny thing is, I couldn’t remember where I originally got the framework, but I came across it again in a YouTube short recently.

❝

People follow those who demonstrate superior judgment about what matters most and superior discipline in pursuing it.

LEVEL UP
AI Prompt for Impact-Focused Goal Clarity

Copy, paste, and complete this in your favorite LLM to identify your highest-impact goal:

I want to use the Magic Wand Method to identify my most impactful goal. Help me work through this step by step:

My 10 goals for the next 12 months:
[List your 10 goals in present tense]

Step 1: Help me apply the Magic Wand Question - "If I could wave a magic wand and achieve ONE of these goals in the next 24 hours, which would have the biggest positive impact on my life or work?" 

Look at each goal and help me identify which 3-4 would create the most significant immediate impact if completed tomorrow.

Step 2: For my top 3-4 candidates you identified, analyze:
- What specific impact would achieving this goal have on my work/life?
- How would this goal create momentum for other areas?
- What opportunities would this unlock that don't exist now?
- Why would focusing on this single goal be more powerful than dividing attention?

Step 3: Help me choose the one goal that becomes my singular focus and explain why it beats the others for creating the biggest positive change.

POLL

Where do you fall regarding your goals and your ability to execute with impact?

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The Bottom Line

Pick one goal. Work on it every day. Finish it.

Then pick the next one.

Everything else is just distraction.

And just remember: your influence isn’t dependent on you doing the most things.

Make one thing so clear, so consistent, and so visible that people can’t help but follow your lead.

While others are explaining their seven priorities, influential people are demonstrating results on their one priority.

Thanks for reading. Be easy!
Girvin

P.S. If you could wave a magic wand and achieve one goal in 24 hours that would have the biggest impact on your life or work, what would it be? Hit reply and let me know.

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