Why I Write 'Focus' Five Times Every Morning

The Founder's Game

Let's be honest, being a founder is not a walk in the park. It is like playing a video game on the most difficult level, or learning how to box (and getting punched a lot).

Focus: The Ultimate Skill

I've realized that the most important skill a founder must have is focus. Focus is a very broad term, but by being fully focused on one task at a time, we can perform at a high level. Focusing is not only about day-to-day things, it's also about staying true to the mission and purpose of the company.

The Feature Temptation

It is very easy to get a thousand feature ideas, every day. It takes a massive effort to just pause your brain from thinking about new features and train it to focus on one thing at a time. Or maybe it's just harder for me.

The Expensive Lesson

When we started Jex, we had a bunch of features developed that never got to see the light of day. They sat in our dev environment for weeks. Then company directions/priorities would change very quickly as we were seeking PMF, and we would have to delete weeks of work. I still remember staring at my screen, watching those features disappear – features that our team had poured their hearts into. This results

in a massive waste of time and money, and it's a mistake that can be existential for companies.

My Daily Reminder

That's why every morning when I journal, I write 'Focus' five times in a row. Like a kid who's been grounded in school. It might seem silly, but it's my daily reminder to stay on track.

Looking Ahead

As 2024 comes to an end, I'm taking this lesson into 2025. We are FOCUSING. No more scattered features, no more chasing every shiny idea. We have one clear goal: to build the best software to help international students navigate employment. Let's go.