The Focus Formula: How Top Creators Win by Doing Less

As a creator, it’s easy to think success comes from doing more-covering more topics and reaching larger audiences. But spreading yourself thin can lead to mediocrity. The most successful creators master one niche, create more value, and build stronger audience connections.

Top creators like Ali Abdaal and Justin Welsh didn’t become successful by trying to do it all. They focused on doing one thing exceptionally well, and that focus transformed their brands.

Remember Nokia?

Nokia was once the king of cell phones. Their strategy? Make a phone for everyone. They created tons of different models, trying to please every type of customer.

Then along came Apple. Instead of making many phones, they created just one-the iPhone-and focused on making it better with each new version.

Today, Nokia’s market cap is $22.86 billion, making it the 849th most valuable company globally. Apple? A staggering $3.47 trillion, making it the world’s most valuable company by far. Half of Apple’s revenue comes from just one produc-the iPhone. This shows how powerful focus can be.

Tesla vs. General Motors: Focus Wins Again

Take a look at car companies. General Motors (GM) has a huge variety of car brands and more than 100 different models. Tesla, in contrast, has just four car models.

The result? GM’s market cap is $53.62 billion, while Tesla’s is $765.80 billion-over ten times higher. Tesla’s focus on a small number of models has allowed them to grow faster and command more market value.

The Trap Creators Can Fall Into

Many creators believe that covering more topics will attract a larger audience. They feel compelled to address a wide array of subject- tech, fashion, travel, business, and more. However, this “Jack of All Trades” approach often backfires.

Let’s contrast two types of creators:

• Jack of All Trades Creator: This creator covers diverse topics but struggles to establish a clear audience.
• Focused Creator: This creator dives deep into one specific niche, building expertise and a loyal following.

The Multi-Niche Blog

Consider a multi-niche blog that spans various content categories:

1. Technology
2. Travel
3. Food
4. Fashion
5. Finance
6. Fitness
7. Entertainment

Within each category, the blog explores multiple sub-niches. For instance, under Technology, they might cover smartphones, laptops, smart home devices, wearables, and more. This can easily lead to the creation of content for 50+ niches.

The Focused Creator

Now, let’s look at a focused creator who concentrates on just one main niche: Personal Finance. This creator explores sub-topics like budgeting, investing, debt management, and financial independence.

While many creators take pride in launching a “suite of products” or covering multiple niches, having more options for your audience isn’t always beneficial.

When audiences face too many choices, they can experience a paradox of choice. Overwhelmed by options, they might hesitate to engage or take action.

The Long-Term Perspective

You might wonder, “What about the long term?”

A long-term focus can indeed work for creators, but it requires a different strategy. It’s not about trying to cover every niche; rather, it’s about cultivating depth within your chosen niche.

When you do this, you establish authority and build trust with your audience, making them more likely to engage with your content and offerings.

Here’s why being a Jack of All Trades can hurt you:

Having multiple niches or too many offers means you have to:

• Market each offer separately.
• Build credibility in multiple fields.
• Risk confusing your brand identity.
• Create unique content for each niche.
• Manage different audience expectations.
• Keep up with trends in various industries.
• Constantly switch between different topics.

Real-Life Examples: Creators Who Focused and Thrived

Justin Welsh: LinkedIn Solopreneur Coach

Justin Welsh used to post about various topics, including leadership, business tips, and personal development. But when he narrowed his focus to solopreneurship (running a one-person business), his following exploded. He now has over 644,714 followers on LinkedIn and a successful coaching business. His focus helped him grow.

Ali Abdaal: Productivity Expert

Ali Abdaal initially posted content on various topics like medical school, productivity, and general life tips. But when he honed in on productivity, he saw a huge spike in growth. Now, with millions of YouTube subscribers, he’s become a trusted source for all things productivity.

David Perell: The Writing Expert

David Perell is another great example. He didn’t try to cover every topic under the sun. Instead, he built his brand around writing. Known as “The Writing Guy” on X (Twitter), he gained over 445,000 followers by sticking to one core focus. His writing courses consistently sell out because people trust him as an expert in this space.

These creators succeeded because they focused on doing one thing really well. If they had spread themselves too thin, they wouldn’t have achieved the same level of success.

Why Less is More

When you try to cover too many topics, your audience doesn’t know what to expect. You’re also dividing your energy between too many things, which makes it harder to create top-quality content. It’s like going to a restaurant with a massive men-sometimes, it’s overwhelming. You wish they’d just stick to a few great dishes.

How You Can Stay Focused

Instead of trying to do it all, pick one main topic and go deep. For example, if your passion is personal finance, you can:

• Create YouTube videos on budgeting.
• Write a blog about saving money.
• Offer an e-book or online course on investing.
• A paid course on investing.
• A podcast interviewing financial experts.
• A membership community for ongoing support.

Everything stays within the same niche, but you’re still offering your audience variety. The key is consistency in your theme.

Look at successful creators like MrBeast (entertainment), Marie Forleo (business), or Peter McKinnon (photography). They are known for one thing, and their audience knows what to expect from them.

Focus Leads to Growth

When you focus on one area, you become known for it. Your audience will appreciate that they know exactly what they’re getting from you. And when you’re seen as an expert in your niche, growth happens naturally.

So, what’s your focus going to be? Instead of trying to do everything, pick the one thing you’re passionate about, and watch your creator business grow.

Share your thoughts below: what niche are you planning to focus on?