Eliminating Fat Head Syndrome (And How Coaches Can Achieve Real Results)

One year ago, I was a self-development junkie.

I’d binge-watch podcasts and burn through books

My biggest problem?

Convincing myself that consuming more information would naturally lead to growth in my coaching business. I thought that the more I learned, the more clients I would create.

I was consuming far more than I was creating.

I’d absorb countless good ideas, but I never implemented them because I was constantly distracted by the next shiny thing. ?It was only later that I realised that progress doesn’t come from how much you know. It comes from how much you apply.

Looking back, I wish I had consumed less and created more.

I wish I had taken the gems from each podcast or book and shared them immediately. But most importantly, I wish I had acted on those insights rather than letting them slip away.

Mistakes Most Coaches Make: Fat Head Syndrome

As a coach, one of the most common traps you can fall into is "Fat Head Syndrome."

It’s when you fill your mind with so much knowledge that you feel productive, but in reality, you're stuck. You think you're growing because you’re gaining more information, but all you’re really doing is crowding your headspace. You become paralysed by too many ideas, and you lose clarity rather than gain it.

Consuming too much content without action gives the illusion of progress.

You might feel like you're on the right path, but in truth, you're standing still. The more you stuff your head with new concepts, frameworks, and advice, the less likely you are to actually do anything with it.

Sound familiar?

If so, you're not alone. But here’s how to fix it.

Step 1. Change Your Intention

Create, Don’t Just Consume

The first step to breaking free from this cycle is shifting your intention. From now on, approach every podcast or book with a creator’s mindset, not a consumer's. Your goal is not just to absorb information but to create from it.

Your intention changes everything.

Think of it this way: every time you listen to a podcast or read a book, your goal is to extract something tangible that you can share or implement. It’s not about being entertained or informed.

It’s about creating value from what you learn.

Step 2. Shift To Creator Mode

The amount of information we have available is endless.

It’s never been easier to get distracted. Instead of consuming several books or podcasts at once, choose one. And commit to finishing it. See it through to the end. Don’t flick to something else halfway through.

More importantly, don’t multitask while consuming content.

When you are in creator mode, don’t listen while you’re on a walk or driving. Sit down with purpose. Focus on the material as if you were attending a live seminar.

With your full attention, you’ll retain more and it will be easier to turn what you learn into action.

Step 3. Take Messy Notes

As you go consume, start taking notes.

It doesn’t matter how it looks. Just get the ideas out of your head. By transferring thoughts from your mind to paper, you free up mental bandwidth and begin the process of creating new information. Don’t worry if your notes look like a jumbled mess.

Think of it as the raw material for the content you will refine later.

As you start to do this, something interesting happens. Your thoughts start to get clearer. Ideas start to flourish. What starts as random information slowly starts to make more sense.

Your mind will start to connect the dots into more tangible ideas.

Step 4. Organise Your Insights

Once you’ve finished, it’s time to organise those messy notes.

Group them into lists, frameworks, or step-by-step processes. Break down the insights into categories that make sense to you.

This could include:

• Principles you’ve learned
• Actionable steps
• New ways of thinking
• Frameworks
• Tips
• Questions

Clarity begins to form.

By structuring your thoughts, you’re essentially distilling the essence of what you’ve learned into something you can share and apply.

5. Share It

Most coaches overcomplicate sharing.

You don’t need to be an expert or create a perfect post. Just mention that you listened to a podcast or read a book and share the insight you got from it.

Let's say you learned something about productivity.

Share it in a simple post. You don’t have to teach, just say what resonated with you and why. The act of sharing, even in its simplest form, adds value to your audience and positions you as someone who’s taking action.

Why Creating Is Better Than Consuming

Now, why should you prioritise creation over consumption? There are a few big reasons:

1. You Learn as You Consume

When you create from the information you’ve consumed, you learn more deeply. Extracting insights forces you to process the material on a higher level than passive consumption does. You start to see patterns, connect ideas, and develop your own perspective.

2. You’ll Consume Less and Waste Less Time

By focusing on creation, you’ll naturally consume less content. This means you’ll close the loop on ideas quicker and avoid the information overload that leads to confusion. No more jumping from podcast to podcast, leaving half-formed ideas lingering in your brain.

3. You’ll Build Visibility and Grow Your Business

Creating content boosts your visibility. When you share what you learn, you’re helping others AND you’re opening up conversations,

Your business will grow as your knowledge grows, but only if you’re sharing and applying what you’ve learned.

Closing the Loops

I first came across the concept of “open loops” in David Allen’s book Getting Things Done.

The idea is simple: open loops are unfulfilled commitments that hang around in your mind, draining your energy. Just like leaving too many apps open on your phone.

When you consume without acting, you’re creating open loops.

All those half-digested ideas floating in your head sap your mental energy. By creating from what you consume, you close those loops. You clear mental clutter.

Most importantly, you free up focus for what truly matters - growing your business.

The Secret to Progress

I wasted so much mental energy listening and reading and convincing myself it was helping my coaching business grow.

If I could roll back the clock, I’d spend way less time consuming and far more time creating. I’d listen to fewer podcasts, read fewer books, and focus on doing more.

The key takeaway?

Knowledge without action is just noise. Progress comes from implementation, not consumption.

So, the next time you sit down to listen to that podcast or open that new book, ask yourself: “How can I use this?” Then, go create something from it. Share what you’ve learned. And most importantly, act on it.

That’s how you grow.

By closing the loops and taking action.

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