The chess player stares at the board. Thirty-two pieces. Infinite possibilities. Paralysis.
The founder faces the same board every morning. Product roadmap. Hiring decisions. Market expansion. Customer retention. Everything feels urgent. Nothing feels certain.
Here’s what the grandmaster knows that most players don’t: The best move isn’t the one that does the most. It’s the one that eliminates the moves that don’t matter.
Strategy isn’t an addition. It’s subtraction with purpose.
You can’t play every game. You can’t pursue every opportunity. You can’t be everything to everyone. The market rewards the player who sees the board differently—who understands that saying “not now” to good moves creates space for great ones.
The mid-market founder’s dilemma isn’t a lack of options. It’s too many. Each one is reasonable. Each one is defensible. Each one is pulling resources and attention in slightly different directions.
Meanwhile, your competitor isn’t playing more moves. They’re playing fewer. Better ones. With conviction.
The question isn’t which move wins the game. It’s what moves you’re brave enough not to make.
Because the board only rewards clarity. And clarity comes from the discipline to see what matters and the courage to ignore what doesn’t.
Your next move is waiting. However, first, you may need to remove three pieces from the board.
