Circle of Control

We've all been there—the high-stress days that make you feel as if you're juggling flaming chainsaws while balancing on a unicycle. It's almost a rite of passage in the fast-paced, high-stakes world of startups. The deadlines loom large, the stakes are sky-high, and everyone's counting on you to pull a rabbit out of a hat. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind. But when I find myself on the edge of that particular cliff, I pause and ask myself a transformative question that never fails to bring me back to solid ground: "What is in my circle of control?"

Asking, "What can I control?" is an immediate filter.

It's easy to dismiss this question as too straightforward or even bland. But don't let its simplicity fool you. The question is your compass in a storm, your anchor in turbulent seas. When chaos reigns and a crisis looms, the question is a laser focus, cutting through the noise and confusion to reveal a landscape of actionable steps.

Imagine you're at the intersection of multiple project deadlines, each with complexities and challenges. The temptation to get lost in the cacophony is real. But asking, "What can I control?" is an immediate filter. It helps you isolate the variables you can influence. For example, you could reallocate resources for a crucial project phase or initiate a candid dialogue with stakeholders to reset expectations.

The question, simple as it may seem, is a powerful tool for grounding yourself in reality. It's not a call to complacency but an invitation to targeted action. It transforms you from a passive recipient of circumstances to an active participant.

The Science of Control

We often rely on gut instinct or lived experience to guide us. But it is reassuring to know that the principle of focusing on what's within our circle of control isn't just anecdotal wisdom but is backed by scientific research. How often has worry consumed you over something entirely out of your hands?

According to a study from the American Psychological Association, focusing on what you can control in stressful scenarios reduces anxiety levels and boosts productivity. It's more than a "feel-good" strategy; it has quantifiable benefits that impact your mental well-being and performance.

But why does this approach work? It comes down to the psychology of stress. Focusing on elements outside our control triggers a stress response that clouds judgment. On the other hand, directing our attention to actionable items gives us a sense of empowerment. It turns a chaotic situation into a set of manageable tasks and, in doing so, minimizes stress and maximizes productivity.

The Real-World

The first step is recognizing what you control and taking decisive action.

I've been in the trenches and can attest to the power of focusing on what's within your control. Let's talk about a specific instance—a product launch that didn't unfold as envisioned. Market shifts were happening, supply chain issues were cropping up, and external factors could easily send a team into a tailspin.

But here's where the magic happens. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong or couldn't be changed, we zeroed in on what we could influence. We couldn't control the market or the supply chain, but we could control how we engaged with our customer base. We excited our customer relations, contacted our network, and initiated targeted PR campaigns.

But it didn't stop there. Knowing that external factors were out of our hands, we also looked hard at our product. Could it be tweaked to better meet the current market demands? Was there an adjacent market we hadn't considered? These questions led us to pivot our strategy, focusing on aspects like feature optimization and market diversification, all within our control.

The outcome was more than salvaging a situation, turning a potential failure into a win. And it all began by asking that pivotal question: "What is in my control?" By doing so, we transformed obstacles into stepping stones, leading us to recovery and growth. Ultimately, it's not about eliminating challenges but about navigating them in a way that turns them into opportunities for progress and innovation. The first step is recognizing what you control and taking decisive action.

Acting vs. Reacting

When an economic recession hit, a startup selling capital equipment to hospitals, schools, and similar institutions faced a precarious situation. The future looked uncertain, and many in similar shoes chose the path of haste—laying off staff, slashing prices, and making reactive decisions. But not this team. Instead, they stepped back and asked, "What's in our circle of control?"

Leaning Into Efficiency

The first action was to implement "lean" measures throughout the company. The focus was optimizing processes, eliminating redundancies, and ensuring that each dollar spent generated value. It wasn't just about surviving the next quarter but building a resilient organization. These measures stabilized their finances, allowing them to think and act strategically.

The Talent Opportunity

While other businesses laid off skilled workers, they did the opposite. Recognizing the unique opportunity to hire highly qualified labor that was now more accessible than ever, they brought in fresh talent—engineering, marketing, and product development experts.

A Shift in Product Strategy

Understanding that their clients were also facing budget constraints, they shifted their focus from high-cost, top-of-the-line products to solutions that offered high value at a more budget-friendly price point. They innovated lower-cost alternatives that met the essential needs of their clients without compromising on quality.

Being Customer-Centric

In addition to rethinking its product line, the company doubled down on customer service and engagement. It initiated conversations with existing clients to understand their changing needs and constraints better. A customer-centric approach not only strengthened relationships but also gave the company invaluable insights into how to improve and adapt its offerings.

From the Brink to Growth

Within a year, they stabilized and saw a 24% increase in revenue, while others faced drastic decreases and even bankruptcies. More impressively, they had built a stronger, more resilient company that was better equipped to face future challenges. By focusing on what they could control, they turned an existential threat into an opportunity for growth and transformation.

The story illustrates the transformative power of understanding your circle of control. In a world filled with variables, knowing what you can influence—and acting on it—is the difference between faltering and flourishing.

The Power of Pause

It's easy to get swept away by the current of differing opinions, tight deadlines, and high stakes. You might find yourself in a meeting where tensions are mounting. Departments are at loggerheads, each convinced their approach is the gospel truth. Or you're wrestling with a complex problem, and every solution seems out of reach. In these instances, when frustration is at its peak, and the temptation to react is overwhelming, the power of pause becomes invaluable.

Simply asking, "What is in my circle of control?" grants you a mental timeout. It isn't about inaction but intentional action. You sift through the chaos and identify the variables you can influence. You can't change someone's opinion, but control how you engage with them. You can't move the deadline, but control the workflow to maximize your time. A brief pause and subsequent question help you pivot away from tension and towards constructive action.

Focusing on what you control creates a pathway for action, turning what could have been a meltdown into a moment of clarity and forward momentum. It's a simple yet transformative strategy that reorients your perspective, defuses tension, and paves the way for meaningful progress.

When the going is tough, ask, "What can I control?" It's a mindset—a lens through which you view challenges and convert them into opportunities. So, the next time you feel the walls closing in, remember you have more control than you think. And that control is your secret weapon for turning trials into triumphs.