Locking In vs. Spreading Thin: The Secret to Actually Moving Forward
The Great Lock In: A season for focus, freedom, and sustainable growth
Like you, I’m no stranger to having a million goals. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had seasons where you tried to improve every single area of your life all at once.
But I had to ask myself: Was I actually growing, or just spreading myself too thin?
As my business grew, I focused on more posts, more funnels, more offers, more strategies, until more felt like too much.
Over the past few years, I’ve poured a lot of energy into healing the endless desire for more. I’ve learned how to set goals without falling into the trap that there are never enough.
I’ve learned that there are seasons for intensity and drive, but constant hustle isn’t sustainable.
And most importantly, I’ve learned that rest is its own form of productivity.
Then, scrolling TikTok the other day, I came across the Great Lock-In trend. The idea is simple: between now and the end of the year, you choose core areas of focus, cut distractions, and commit with intention.
And, instantly, I was all in. And, I thought: This is exactly what entrepreneurs need.
Because most of us don’t lack ideas, we lack focus. And not a level of focus that someone else set for us, but the kind we choose for ourselves.
This article is about making The Great Lock In authentically yours.
Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs
I often call the time between September and December Entrepreneur Gold.
It’s a season of structure, habits, and momentum; when we can end one year strong while laying the foundation for the next. Maybe it’s my Virgo sun talking, but this is my favorite time to focus in.
Either way, it’s a time I’ve seen over and over again where my clients and community members are ready to, well…lock in.
The idea is that you focus on a few things:
Choose a few priorities. Not everything. Just a few. You’re not able to prioritize everything, and you shouldn’t. Pick the ones with the biggest ROI, whether that’s wellness, family, relationships, fitness, finances, and or business.
Cut distractions. Easier said than done, right? But setting clear priorities means you can recognize distractions for what they are. And yes, I need this reminder too!
Commit with intention. This is the secret weapon. You’re not just dabbling, you’re really standing behind it. You’re committing to authentic changes. Committing to your results with intention. Believing in them wholeheartedly. Because mindset is half the battle when it comes to consistency.
It sounds simple. But how often do you really combine all three? Usually, we attempt one or two and wonder why the results don’t stick.
Momentum dies when your attention is split.
Locking in isn’t about doing more; it’s about choosing the right things and doing them well.
The Soul Meets Strategy Framework for Entrepreneurs
Most people hear “lock in” and think restriction. But I see it differently.
Locking in is freedom.
Ironic, isn’t it? The more we focus and streamline, the more expansive and inspired we feel.
Rather than feeling pulled in a million different directions, which results in feeling cluttered and overwhelmed, we choose fewer things that create space for them to actually work.
For me, and for the entrepreneurs I’ve supported, it always comes back to my Soul Meets Strategy Framework. It’s how you anchor your energy in what matters most while letting go of the noise.
Soulful Foundations
Instead of chasing every new content hack you find online, decide to lock in on your brand story and refine your message. Because when your message is clear, everything else feels lighter.
Ask yourself: where does my message feel fuzzy right now?
Aligned Systems
Instead of trying to be everywhere, lock in on one platform, one funnel, and one workflow. Imagine the peace that comes from knowing exactly how your leads come in, and trusting the system to work for you. Not to mention, you’ll have incredible data from this exercise, which is what marketing is truly about.
Ask yourself: Which system, if I mastered it, would give me the most stability and ease in my business?
Authentic Attraction
Instead of burning yourself out creating more, lock in on creating story-rich content that connects, or prioritize a long-term evergreen marketing platform (if social media is giving you a recurring headache). Seriously, these two things are the best shifts I've ever made in my business.
Ask yourself: How can I build a deeper connection with my audience so trust flows naturally from awareness to sales?
Aligned Sales
Instead of constantly launching something new, lock in on refining your core offer. Sell it in a way that feels good, and experiment with different ways to sell it. Again, focusing on too much can stretch you thin, and your results won’t follow.
Ask yourself: What’s the one offer I could sell over and over again with excitement, integrity, and alignment?
This framework is exactly how I’m locking in this fall.
Because after nine years of entrepreneurship, I know that going deeper beats going wider every single time. And, this process allows me to build momentum without losing myself in the process.
Beyond The Business
But your Great Lock In doesn’t have to center around business.
What you focus on outside of your business directly impacts your role as a business owner and how you show up.
For example:
Health: Instead of trying to overhaul everything, lock in on walking daily and getting more sleep. With these simple shifts, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll have more energy to create content and show up for your clients.
Family: Instead of more screen time, lock in one family game night every week. Feeling connected to my family gives me the biggest motivation as a business owner because it constantly reminds me why I do what I do.
Creativity: Instead of 100 half-finished projects, lock in on one project that would make you feel like the best version of yourself. For me, that’s finally writing my book!
So, what about you? What would change if you streamlined your approach to growth by simplifying?
How to Create Your Authentic Great Lock In
Here’s how to make it your own:
1. Decide On The Season.
One thing I don’t think a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners talk about is how everything has a season. Yes, even consistency. I would not have been consistently creating content for almost a decade if I didn’t give myself seasons of rest and breaks.
But, because I knew it was temporary and seasonal, I could sustain my energy for that time period. So, look at your life, your long-term goals, your visions, and determine what this season looks like for you.
2. Name Your Season.
Yes, I’m a sucker for branding, I can’t help it! I love a good name for the season in life I’m in. Think of something like “The Bloom Season,” “The Surrender Season,” “The Alignment Season,” or “The Sprint Season.” What I love about naming a season is that it reminds us that nothing is permanent and makes it more tangible.
3. Choose 1-3 Priorities In Each Focus.
Business, health, relationships, creativity…pick a handful and let the rest go. Remember to personalize it based on your capacity (we all have different schedules and capacities, so be sure to prioritize yourself first and foremost). Remember, less really does create more momentum.
4. Audit Your Distractions.
I equally love and hate a self audit, but the results I get when I sit down, ask myself the hard questions, look at the numbers, etc, are always eye-opening.
Spend a week auditing where you’re most distracted and then create a reminder list for yourself so you can say no with intention. Remember, distractions aren’t always social media. Sometimes it’s good ideas, too. You don’t have to act on every single idea that pops into your head.
5. Set Boundaries Around Your Energy
I hate to break it to you, but if your energy is zapped, you’re not going to be a very great business owner. Protect your focus like your future depends on it, because it does.
Protect your focus by protecting your time. Schedule time off. Give yourself breaks between meetings. Evaluate if a meeting, call, etc, is worth it. Always ask yourself, and let your body help you decide if something is a Hell Yes, or a Hell No.
My Great Lock In: The Experiment Season
This fall, I’m calling my season The Experiment Season.
I’m in the middle ground between hustle and soft. It’s a season of play, testing, curiosity, and letting the results show me what’s next. I speak about this in my recent article.
Even in a season of experimenting, I can still lock in with clarity. Here’s where my energy is going:
Business:
Growing my YouTube channel. My main platform for the remainder of the year is my YouTube channel. I’m focused on streamlining my process so I can create valuable content in less time, growing my subscriber count, and using it as a way to increase brand awareness.
Discover my signature offers for the next decade. After nearly 10 years in business, I’m in a season of experimentation. I’ve let go of programs that no longer feel aligned, and this fall, my focus is on discovering which offers I want to carry into my next chapter. I’m testing, refining, and listening closely to myself, my audience, and the results, so I can build a business model that feels sustainable and exciting for years to come.
Grow my email list. I’ve been truly lucky the past few years to generate over $2 million in cash with a small email list. Currently, my email list is only 6,000 people! However, I want to serve more people, so expansion is key. My goal is to grow my email list to 10,000 by the end of the year. It’s a stretch goal, but it gives me a clear marker to direct my efforts.
Note: As you can see, these pieces all connect, which is so cool. I can use my YouTube channel to get more email subscribers, and as I increase my audience size, my Academy memberships will increase as well!
Life:
Homeschooling Systems. With 4th grade underway, homeschooling looks a lot different than it did a year ago. As someone who runs a business and homeschools her son, systems aren’t optional; they’re survival. This season is about experimenting with structure: finetuning our schedule, simplifying routines, and creating rhythms that support both learning and life. The more streamlined our days are, the more space we all have for creativity, connection, and growth.
Building Strength. I’m curious to see how strong I can get as I prepare to enter my 40s. Fun fact, I want to live to be 100, and I know my body’s ability to move is key in that process. My goal is to see just how heavy I can go!?
Writing My Book. I promised myself I’d write and publish my book before my next birthday, and this season is about experimenting with showing up for that promise daily. I’m excited to document this process here.
Locking In
Locking in is about clearing the clutter so you can actually see the path in front of you.
Because the truth is, sometimes the climb isn’t about how fast you can go or how many things you juggle along the way. It’s about choosing which mountain is worth climbing at all.
Because the Universe will put a lot of mountains in front of you. The question is: which one belongs to this season, and this version of you?
For me, this season isn’t about spreading thinner and thinner until there’s nothing left. It’s about experimenting with depth, trusting that if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, the clarity will come.
And maybe that’s the real secret no one tells us: locking in isn’t limiting. It’s liberating.
It’s saying yes to the priorities that matter most, and no to the distractions that keep us circling over and over again.
And maybe that’s what this whole climb is about, not proving we can do it all, but choosing the parts that matter most and giving them everything we’ve got.