Finding Direction After Self-Awareness

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to know something... and still not know what to do next?

It's something I've been thinking about a lot over the past few months while building Compass.

As Head of Product, I spend a lot of time talking with users. Listening to feedback, reviewing product analytics, testing new ideas, and trying to understand what's getting in the way of meaningful progress.

One observation kept coming up.

People usually know where they stand. They're just not always sure what to do next.

We Don't Have an Information Problem

If anything, we have the opposite.

• Need leadership advice? Thousands of books.
• Need career guidance? Countless podcasts, blogs, YouTube videos, and now AI.
• Need productivity tips? You'll have more ideas than you could ever apply.

The challenge isn't finding information anymore.

It's answering one simple question: What deserves my attention right now?

That question is much harder than it sounds.

Here's the Part That Surprised Me

When we first started talking about Compass, I assumed the biggest opportunity was helping people become more self-aware.

The more we listened, the more I realized I was wrong.

Most people don't need another assessment.

They don't need another article.

They don't need another framework.

They need clarity.

They need confidence that they're focusing on the right next step.

That realization has shaped almost every product conversation we've had since.

A Thought I've Been Carrying Around

One idea has stuck with me throughout this journey:

Clarity creates confidence.

Confidence creates momentum.

And momentum is what ultimately moves us forward.

That sounds obvious.

It's also incredibly difficult.

Because every day we're competing with new priorities, urgent requests, distractions, and endless information.

Knowing what deserves attention first is often harder than doing the work itself.

Maybe We've Been Thinking About Growth Backwards

Looking Ahead

Over the next few weeks, I want to share some of the lessons we've learned while building Compass not product announcements, but observations about clarity, direction, momentum, leadership, careers, and the conversations that have shaped our thinking while building Compass.

I'd love to hear your perspective as well.

Have you ever felt like you knew exactly what needed to change... but weren't sure where to start?

Sometimes the hardest part isn't seeing the path.

It's having enough clarity to confidently take the first step.