Why Knowing Isn't the Same as Moving Forward
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One thing I've learned over the years—and one I'm still learning—is that knowing the right answer doesn't necessarily make it easier to act on it.
I've worked with incredibly talented people.
They already know they should...
- delegate more
- spend less time reacting and more time thinking strategically
- be capable of more
Including myself.
Knowing has never really been the hard part.
Acting consistently is.
And the more I thought about it, the less I believed motivation was the problem.
Have you ever caught yourself saying...
"I'll work on that next week."
"Once this project is done..."
"When things slow down..."
I know I have. 🫣
The funny thing is, there's always another project.
...another deadline
...another meeting
...another fire to put out
Somehow, the things that matter most are often the easiest things to postpone.
Here's something that changed my thinking...
While building Compass, we spent a lot of time asking ourselves a simple question:
If people already know what they want to improve... why don't they?
Initially, I thought we needed to give people more information.
...more recommendations
...more resources
...more ideas
The more we talked with people, the more obvious something became.
People rarely needed more information.
They needed enough clarity to confidently take the next step.
📒Product Notebook
One statement has been written on my whiteboard for months now:
The more I come back to that idea, the more I believe it.
Small wins don't solve everything.
They create confidence.
Confidence creates momentum. 🤩
I started noticing a pattern
The people who seemed to make the most consistent progress weren't necessarily the smartest, or the busiest, or even the most experienced.
They simply had a habit of asking one question.
They weren't trying to solve everything.
They were trying to solve the right next thing.
What's the next meaningful step?
Not...
How do I fix everything?
Not...
What's my five-year plan?
Just...
What's the next thing that's worth doing?
It's a much smaller question.
It's amazing how often one small decision changes everything that follows.
Looking Ahead
One of the ideas that continues to shape Compass is this:
- People don't need a perfect plan.
- They need enough clarity to confidently take the next step.
- This is where momentum begins.
Next week, I want to explore another question that's been on my mind:
