Have you ever found yourself constantly adding new projects to your business plans? A new offering here, an exciting collaboration there, until suddenly your carefully mapped-out year looks more like a tangled web of commitments than a focused strategy?

Last week, I noticed myself slipping into exactly this pattern. Though I’d set clear goals for the year ahead—ones that felt ambitious yet achievable—I kept finding tempting new ideas to add to my plans. Each one seemed too exciting or promising to pass up, and before I knew it, I was looking at a schedule that had gone from focused to scattered.

But then something unexpected happened. Rather than trying to pare back these ideas (which always feels a bit like giving something up), I tried a completely different approach—one that initially seemed counterintuitive but ended up bringing an amazing amount of clarity.

When Adding More Actually Means Achieving Less

There’s something fascinating about how we approach business growth. When faced with revenue targets that stretch us, many of us default to a particular strategy: we add more offerings, more projects, more deliverables. It’s as if we find it easier to do more things than to believe we could do better with our core offerings.

This pattern shows up across so many creative businesses. We create a new workshop because we’re not sure our course will sell enough spots. We develop three different service packages because we’re not confident our signature offering will attract enough clients. We launch a podcast, a newsletter, incorporate TikTok, and add in a YouTube channel because we’re uncertain any single platform will reach enough people.

In essence, we hedge our bets by spreading ourselves thinner—often without even realising that’s what we’re doing.

The Clarity Filter That Changed Everything

While reading Dan Sullivan’s book “10x is Easier than 2x,” I found myself intrigued by his premise that aiming for dramatically bigger goals forces different thinking. While the idea of multiplying all my targets by ten didn’t feel right for my business, I wondered what would happen if I applied a more moderate version of this approach.

What if I looked at my annual revenue target through the lens of 2.5x? Not as an actual goal I needed to hit, but as a clarity filter for my decisions?

The result was immediate and surprising. Rather than creating pressure, this expanded number brought extraordinary clarity. When I evaluated each potential new project against this larger figure, suddenly it became crystal clear which opportunities would truly move the needle and which would simply create busy work.

Those additional ideas that had seemed so tempting? Many of them started to look more like distractions. They might contribute modestly to my original goal, but they weren’t substantial enough to make a meaningful impact on the larger number. And more importantly, they would take energy away from the core offerings that actually could.

How a Bigger Number Creates Calmer Decisions

Counter to what you might expect, looking through the lens of a larger target doesn’t have to create more pressure—it can actually bring more calm. When every opportunity, idea, or potential project gets filtered through this expanded view, decision-making becomes remarkably straightforward:

• The right opportunities stand out more clearly
• Time allocation becomes more intentional
• Focus naturally narrows to what truly matters
• “Shiny object syndrome” loses much of its pull

This isn’t about pushing yourself to exhaustion or setting unrealistic expectations. The inflated number isn’t your actual target—it’s simply a decision-making tool that helps you see with greater clarity what deserves your focus and what might be pulling you off course.

Finding Your Own Clarity Number

So how might you apply this approach in your own business? Start by considering your current annual revenue target, then experiment with different multipliers. The key is finding a number that makes you feel both energised and clear-headed when you think about it.

For me, 2.5x felt right—significant enough to change my thinking without feeling disconnected from reality. For you, it might be 2x or 3x or something completely different. You’re looking for that sweet spot where:

• You feel energised rather than overwhelmed
• You can envision pathways rather than obstacles
• You gain clarity about priorities without pressure
• Decisions become more straightforward

Remember, this isn’t about creating a target you have to hit. It’s about finding a number that helps you make better decisions. When you’re evaluating opportunities or planning your time, simply ask yourself: “Would this meaningfully contribute to my clarity number?” If not, it might be a sign to reconsider.

The Surprising Benefit of Thinking Bigger

What I find most powerful about this approach is how it actually leads to doing less, not more. When you filter decisions through the lens of a meaningfully larger target, you naturally focus on strengthening what already works well rather than constantly adding new things.

This creates space—for deeper work, for true excellence, and often for more sustainable growth. Instead of trying to be everywhere and do everything, you make conscious choices about where to direct your energy.

In essence, thinking bigger helps you focus smaller—on the few things that truly matter.

Moving Forward with Intention

Whether you choose to adopt this approach or find your own method for gaining clarity, what matters most is making decisions with intention rather than impulse. Our businesses grow not by doing more, but by doing what matters—consistently and excellently.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this concept. Does the idea of a “clarity number” resonate with you? Have you found other approaches that help you make decisions with more confidence and calm? Share your experience in the comments below or join the conversation over on Instagram.

Remember: true success often comes not from adding more, but from focusing on what you already do brilliantly—and doing it even better.