By Ben Dooley, MCC, CPCC

At a recent MindShift Mondays session, something important got revealed.

This month we’re exploring Clarity, Focus, and Direction. And one of our members shared an experience that is incredibly common. In fact, you’ve probably fallen into this trap yourself. You may still be in it.

Entrepreneurs tend to believe that clarity, focus, and direction come from perfect planning, better strategy, or thinking harder. But it doesn’t work nearly as well as we think it does. Because when we do that, we’re trying to fix our problems while we’re stuck inside the problem.

Clarity comes from interaction. From real conversations, real service, and real engagement with other people.

So back to our member. For two weeks, he tried something radical: he simply talked to people. He didn’t talk about himself. No dumping his offer, no convincing people to like him. Instead, he talked with them about them. What they were doing. What they were up to and excited about. Where they were stuck. What they were navigating. What they were wishing for.

And in that space, his energy, direction, and sense of purpose completely opened up. He knew what actions to take. Everything got easier.

This is the entrepreneurial paradox: you find your path by helping others find theirs.

There was a second discovery. He didn’t need to “go narrow and deep” yet. He didn’t need one perfect identity. Multiple identities could live under one umbrella: job search, entrepreneurship transition, retirement, emerging leaders.

When we asked what unified all of it, the answer came immediately: self-empowerment. Not his own, but his capacity to help others step into theirs. Helping people get clear on what they want, and giving themselves permission to go after it.

Which, in turn, helped him get clear on what he wants.

Clarity, Focus, and Direction. Suddenly easy.

Join us at the next MindShift Mondays session. Details at strategicintercept.com.