Today, I want to share some wisdom about a common strategy that often leads people astray: diversification. While it might seem like a good idea to spread your efforts across different areas, it is not always the path to success. Diversification, whether in business or in other careers, often pulls you away from the very thing that could bring you the greatest success: focus.

Diversification in business means expanding into new markets or products that are often quite different from a company’s core business. It’s a strategy many pursue, sometimes out of a desire for growth, other times out of fear, or worse, out of ego. The allure of being involved in many things can be strong, but it’s also dangerous. It dilutes attention and resources, and it often leads to mediocrity rather than excellence. The same principle applies to individual careers. Whether you want to be a professor, an artist, an entrepreneur, or something else entirely, focus is your greatest ally. You can’t achieve mastery in anything if your attention is scattered across too many pursuits.

Paul Graham, a thinker whose ideas have guided countless entrepreneurs (and me as well) emphasizes the importance of focus. He has often said that successful startups succeed because they do one thing exceptionally well. They identify a core problem and solve it better than anyone else. The same is true for any career. If you try to do everything, you end up doing nothing particularly well. Mastery requires depth, and depth requires focus. This is not to say you should be myopic or ignore the world around you. It’s important to stay curious and aware of broader trends, but curiosity and awareness should inform your focus, not distract from it.

Many businesses diversify for reasons that ultimately harm them. Some do it out of a desire to build empires, feeding the egos of those in charge. Others do it out of fear, chasing trends because they’re afraid of being left behind. Sometimes, it’s simply overconfidence. A company that excels in one area assumes it can replicate that success elsewhere without understanding the nuances of a new market or product. These motivations often lead to problems. When businesses diversify without a clear and strategic purpose, they lose focus. They spread their resources thin, creating inefficiencies and making it harder to excel in any one area. The same can happen in a career. If you’re constantly chasing new opportunities without a clear sense of purpose, you risk becoming a generalist who is competent at many things but excellent at none.

The pitfalls of diversification are subtle but significant. For businesses, it leads to complexity. Managing multiple, unrelated ventures requires time and energy that could have been spent perfecting the core business. For individuals, it’s the mental clutter that comes from trying to do too much. Energy is finite, and every new pursuit takes a little more away from the others. Diversification can also dilute your brand. Whether you’re a company or an individual, being known for one thing—and being excellent at it—is far more valuable than being known for doing a little bit of everything. A strong reputation in one area can open doors to opportunities you hadn’t even considered.

Instead of seeking growth through diversification, focus on becoming the best at what you do. If you’re an entrepreneur, double down on your core business. If you’re an aspiring professor, focus on your area of research. If you’re an artist, commit to honing your craft. Depth is what sets people and businesses apart. Of course, focus doesn’t mean ignoring everything else. It means prioritizing the things that matter most and letting the rest take a back seat. If you do need to expand, do so thoughtfully. Look for opportunities that are closely tied to your existing strengths and approach them with the same level of commitment you bring to your core focus.

This lesson applies across the board. A lawyer who tries to take on every type of case will never develop the expertise of someone who specializes. A musician who experiments with every genre might never find their unique voice. A startup founder who chases every new trend will likely miss the opportunity to dominate a single market. Focus is not just about what you do; it’s also about what you choose not to do. The ability to say no to distractions, even tempting ones, is a hallmark of success.

At the same time, avoid becoming so narrow in your focus that you’re blind to the world around you. Balance is important. The world changes and a lot of time those who choose to stay myopic and think their way is the best will end up road kill on the highway.  So stay curious, keep learning, and be open to new ideas, but channel that curiosity into your chosen path. Use it to deepen your expertise and refine your craft, not to pull yourself in too many directions. Success often comes from doing one thing exceptionally well rather than many things adequately. Resist the temptation to build empires for the wrong reasons. Stay focused. Build something remarkable by sticking to what you know and love, and let that dedication guide you to long-term success.