In my earlier years in pre-sales, I was trying to be good at everything.

From technical product knowledge, client research, be an industry thought leader, developing customised proposals, building demos with storytelling to delivering impactful presentations.

Despite my best efforts, the pressure to keep up in every area left me feeling tired and sometimes ineffective.

On hindsight, there's a crucial lesson here:

High performance doesn't happen from doing everything—it comes from focusing on what you do best.

The most impactful moments in my career was when I focused on amplifying my "sweet spot" — understanding clients deeply, tailoring narratives that resonated with them and simplifying the abstract.

Here's a simple framework I've found helpful in finding your sweet spot:

1. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤: List down the most important tasks in your current role.
2. 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Assess your proficiency and interest for each task, classifying them into the 4 quadrants.
3. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭: Identify the intersection where your strengths and passions align. This is where you should focus your efforts for maximum impact. Collaborate or systemize the remaining tasks as needed.

We can make the greatest impact when we spend time and energy on what we do best.

This article was originally posted on LinkedIn