- Creator Toolkit
- Posts
- My lack of focus is costing you
My lack of focus is costing you
Jessica Smalley
March 03, 2025
In partnership with
Hey Creator,
I’ve been thinking a lot about focus lately and why it’s so hard to do.
There’s this constant feeling of FOMO everywhere you look.
It’s especially relevant in the creator economy.
You’re inundated with what you could be doing every single moment of the day.
I should start a podcast, a YouTube channel…OH! A newsletter wink wink nudge nudge.
The irony in all of this is that if you want that thing you have in mind to succeed, there is only one way to do it.
Focus.
No one wants to do it at the start, at least, because it’s, well, boring.
Who wants to do one thing when you can start that other thing after watching your friend having the time of his life doing it.
You know it doesn’t work like that.
So here’s something worth sharing.
It's been one year since I launched the Creator Toolkit newsletter, and there is so much room for growth. Yet, the focus is often derailed by this pressure to be present on every other platform.
How do you apply strategic focus that sets you up for success?
Let’s explore this together in today’s top insight.
Here’s what you can expect in today’s newsletter:
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Quick Fire!
Why your lack of focus is costing you
Social media Updates for this week
Check out my READ, LISTEN + WATCH recommendations for this week
🫒by Jess Smalley
Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here 🤙
"Focusing is about saying no” – Steve Jobs
CREATOR NEWS
🧨QUICK FIRE
Instagram might (definitely) launch an editing app for Reels.
LTK, the place to buy from content creators, is reinventing itself as a social app. It will be a video-first experience that is more lifestyle-focused than commerce.
An Instagram “glitch” exposed some users to a never ending feed of violent and graphic Reels.
Alix Earle’s ‘Hot Mess’ Podcast Dropped by Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network.
Meta plans to release a standalone Meta AI app in an effort to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Apple introduces new child safety initiatives, including an age-checking system for apps.
Court filings show Meta staffers discussed using copyrighted content for AI training.
Trump’s Department of Justice invited 15 far-right influencers to the White House, providing them with binders that contained several files on notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The issue was that this information had been available for years.
Why your lack of focus is costing you
The #1 Growth Strategy? Saying No.
Most creators fail not because they lack talent but because they try to do too much at once.
I’ve fallen hook, line and sinker into the trap of needing to “do more” to be successful.
But would you believe it? Spreading yourself too thin kills your growth.
We know this because we watch the best creators master one niche.
MrBeast didn’t start with burger joints, Feastables, and a philanthropy channel. He obsessed over YouTube’s algorithm for years and years before expanding.
Ali Abdaal didn’t start with a newsletter, YouTube course empire, or a podcast. He built his YouTube channel first, then layered on other projects.
You know that feeling you get when it feels like your wheels are spinning, but you’re not moving? It’s probably because you’re stuck in the beginner phase.
Going all in on one thing allows you to become known for it, get better, and attract an audience faster.
But how do you focus on the right thing?
In this situation, it makes sense to chuck everything at the wall and see what sticks, right?
Well, there’s a much faster way to do it. The catch is that it won’t feel like the fastest option in the beginning.
1. The 80/20 rule: Find what’s working
Not everything you do drives equal results. Look at your content, projects, or platforms and ask:
What 20% of my efforts are bringing 80% of my growth?
Which posts, videos, or strategies are actually driving engagement, followers, or revenue?
Figure out your sweet spot
Enjoy doing (so you won’t burn out)
Have a natural skill (so you stand out)
Is growing in demand (so the audience is there)
Your audience will follow clarity
If your content is all over the place, people don’t know why they should follow you.
Think about it:
If someone scrolls past your content, can they instantly tell what you’re about?
If a new follower lands on your profile, is it obvious why they should stick around?
Creators who grow the fastest have clear positioning. They own a specific niche, topic, or style before expanding.
How do you master focus?
It’s time to protect your focus by implementing the following:
Forget side projects. You’re going all in, which means saying no to amazing opportunities so you don’t sacrifice your focus.
Set a 12 month reminder and check in on the project in a year. Did it work? Keep going. Did it not work? Start fresh.
Hit the reply button and answer this question: What’s ONE thing you could master that would make everything else easier later?
SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
Meta
Meta Business Suite app now lets you add links to your social media profiles.
announces that its updated ranking and recommendation algorithm is fully launched to assist creators of all sizes in gaining visibility.
Adam Mosseri says saving posts as drafts don’t affect reach.
YouTube
says that it will apply midrolls during natural breakpoints like prolonged pauses.
now labels music videos in the feed with a musical note.
now shows analytics for comments on posts (this is a first of its kind!)
TikTok
revamped its desktop platform to compete with YouTube, incorporating a new modular layout, an updated ‘For You’ feed, a fresh Explore tab, and a floating player.
READ: Are young women turning to nunhood? What’s going on here? Young women seem to be searching for a much quieter, simpler life with no boys allowed.
LISTEN: A lot of what makes up for today’s fractured, algorithm-driven society can be learned from the golden age of dial-up internet and tech optimism during the 00s. This episode of Power User, hosted by internet reporter Taylor Lorenz, takes a nostalgic but critical account of the decade that set the stage for the digital revolution.
WATCH: It’s these types of videos that make you go. What’s the point of paying for a university education if it exists on YouTube? Brad Giannini cuts a beautifully descriptive and succinct video essay on how YouTubers make their videos look cinematic.
Need help refining your own digital strategy?
I help you cut through the noise and build a clear, effective strategy.
With expertise in podcast strategy, creative direction, personal branding, and social media, I provide actionable guidance to help you move forward with confidence.
If you're unsure about your next steps, let’s find the best path together.
Let’s get serious
What’s the mark of the world’s best, most growth-minded newsletter creators? They’re all on beehiiv.
Why? Our entire platform exists to help serious content creators scale faster. We’re built for those who are ready to take their content and build it into a behemoth.
It’s why we offer a no-code website builder. It’s why our ad network matches you with global brands like Nike and Netflix. It’s why we never take a dime of your subscription revenue. And it’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ashley Graham trust us to connect with their huge fan bases.
It’s all to put your hard work in front of more people. So if you’re ready to build, ready to grow, and ready to make the world take notice, beehiiv is ready for you.
THE DIG