Don’t Change Lanes Until You’ve Worked Out How to Drive in This One
Over the years, sitting in coworking spaces and running Creator Write Club, I’ve noticed something, whether it’s creators launching projects or coworking space operators trying to expand.
People start something, get a little bit of momentum, and then—just when things are beginning to work—they jump into something else.
It’s like changing lanes on a busy motorway before you’ve figured out how to drive in your current lane.
The result?
Self-sabotage.
Why Changing Lanes Too Soon is Self-Sabotage
I’ve done it myself more times than I can count.
Like that line in Robbie Willam’s Song ‘Feel.’
“Before I fall in love, I’m preparing to leave her,”
I’ll get a podcast going, and before it’s even running smoothly, I start another one.
And then another.
In the last fifteen years, I’ve recorded and produced over one thousand podcasts on many different projects and topics, but I jumped around too much.
Instead of going deep and mastering the first one, I split my energy across too many, and none reached their full potential.
This is what I see a lot with coworking space operators, too.
They’ll get one space going, and as soon as they succeed, they’ll start thinking about opening a second space.
The problem is that the first space isn’t excellent yet.
They’re dividing their focus, resources, and energy—essentially defragmenting themselves—before the first thing has matured.
A Personal Example: YouTube Shorts
Here’s where it gets real: I’ve made over 200 YouTube Shorts, and things are only now starting to get the consistent attention I crave.
My views are up, my hooks are tighter, and I’m finally seeing the results I’ve been working toward.
Instead of perfecting what I’m doing and understanding it better by exploring it further, the temptation to start a new kind of video or to change it up is creeping in.
But here’s the thing—when I stay focused on what’s working, my YouTube channel will be much more solid by December.
I’ll have even more clarity on what I think and what I can sustain.
This is a long-term project, and I’ve finally recognised how prone I am to self-sabotage.
Turning Agony Into Progress: How the 12-Week Year Changed Everything
Since I started in August 2018, the ‘12-week Year‘ has been life-changing.
I’ve been ‘phoning it in’ for chunks of that time, but now I know when I am doing it for real or playing at it.
Over time, the ‘12-week year has taught me that most people don’t have an idea problem; they have an execution problem.
So, I’m sticking with this plan: get 1% better daily.
It is agony, and I feel like I’m going cold turkey after being on tour with a hell-raising 80s rock band.
But this agony and attention to detail have increased my views on YouTube Shorts from 40 – 80 daily to 400 – 450 views.
Every day, I learn more about how to use Vid IQ for YouTube to improve my speed and accuracy—it’s like Duolingo for YouTube.
One of the consistent messages from the coaching videos is that if you intend to take YouTube seriously over the long term, you need to get to one hundred videos.
Then you start to know what you can do.
The 12-Week Year and Keeping Things Simple
The 12-week year focuses on narrowing your goals to three main things at a time.
Everything else goes in the backlog.
This is where Emily, my partner in chaos and certified Scrum Master, comes in.
She’s the keeper of the backlog.
She ensures we don’t chase shiny objects and reminds me to stick with what’s working.
Over the last year, we’ve used the scrum method to move from paddling in the shallow end to producing two Coworking Values Podcasts weekly.
It’s taken time, but now we’re more efficient, producing more creative work in less time and gaining more listeners and subscribers weekly.
Emily’s incredible at organising chaos and ensuring we don’t lose focus.
This system is why we’re still on track—everything that’s not an immediate focus goes on the scrum board or into the backlog.
If I hadn’t put new ideas in the backlog, I’d have started them and gotten nowhere.
Focus is Key to Real Success
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is jumping into something new because they think the grass is greener.
But all that does is make them start over from scratch.
You don’t yet have the trust, recognition, or audience.
It’s better to go deeper into what’s working and build a firm foundation.
The longer you stay focused on one thing, the more valuable the lessons you’ll learn.
These lessons help you grow in ways you can’t even imagine, and they’re the things you’ll need when you eventually move to the next big project.
Blue Zone Food and Practicing What You Preach
Here’s where I tie it all together.
My family and I live in Vigo in Galicia, where Blue Zone food surrounds me.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are at another level here in Galicia.
It’s healthy, it’s delicious, and it’s right in front of me.
But guess what?
I don’t eat it as often as I should, even though I know it’s best for me.
It’s easy to have an attitude about Blue Zone food rather than applying it practically—just like with business and creativity.
We know what works, but how many of us actually do it?
When I’m nervous or anxious, I hoover up food.
I love making huge quesadillas with ham, melted cheese and green chillies—hardcore comfort food.
But when I drink lots of water and eat Greek Yogurt and fruit at the right time, I don’t fall into the seductive land of melted cheese and ham quesadillas drenched in Spanish olive oil and butter.
We all know how to lose weight—eat less and exercise more.
But knowing and doing are two different things.
The same is true regarding focusing on one project until it’s successful.
A Checklist for Staying Focused
If you’re feeling that pull to start something new, here’s a quick checklist to help you stay on track:
- Am I dividing my energy across multiple projects prematurely?
- Have I given my current project enough time to mature and produce results?
- Have I even let it get going?
- Am I avoiding the arduous work of mastering one area before moving on to the next?
- Am I taking advantage of what’s already right in front of me?
Conclusion: One Thing at a Time
Don’t change lanes too soon.
Stick with what’s working.
Perfect it.
Build a solid foundation, and only then move to the next thing.
There’s enough time to do everything, but not all at once.
By focusing on 1% growth daily, you’ll avoid the trap of self-sabotage and experience the tingle of success that comes from commitment.
I do it with my YouTube Shorts, podcasts, and Blue Zone food.
It’s hard, but it’s worth it.
Take Action:
What’s the one project you’ve been neglecting by chasing something new?
Please pick it up again and focus on growing it by 1% daily.
If you are in London, join the Creator Write Club at Creative Works by Blackhorse Road E17. I’ll be there on Wednesday, September 18th.
If you want to hear more about how we’re navigating this journey, join us on the Coworking Values Podcast or subscribe to my newsletter for more insights and practical tips.
