Chaotic Ambition

The Multi-Talent Trap

Having a lot of ideas, talent, and ambition is a recipe for success, right? Well, maybe not.

Over the last few weeks I’ve hosted a number of events in London to celebrate the launch of my new book Decisions That Matter. I’ve met hundreds of readers, many of them are multi-hyphenates or what I like to describe as ‘ambitious productive women’. I’ve really enjoyed talking to them about their career, life, and goals.

Something that I recognise in many of these women is something I also recognise in myself, I call it chaotic ambition. It’s when someone has the drive, the ability, and the desire to succeed, but they’re juggling too many things, constantly switching from one to the next. Typically they thrive in the early stages, have tons of new ideas, they love to take on another big challenge, but they don’t always follow it through to completion. From the outside, it’s clear they are dynamic, talented and in demand. But internally, they’re often unfocused, confused, and second guessing themselves. One thing they all have in common? A well of unfinished projects and untapped potential.

So what’s the problem?

Well, being talented in multiple areas can be both a gift and a curse. It means you can easily start new projects, learn new skills, and say yes to new opportunities. It’s fun and exciting to say "Why not?” and to just go for it. This audacious attitude often pays off in the short term. But left unchecked, and without a clear direction, this can keep you trapped in a cycle of aimless exploration and reinvention.

The world still rewards specialisation. Often those who truly make an impact, the ones we reference and applaud, are those who commit to one craft, mission, or vision with sustained effort. That doesn’t mean you have to pick one thing and stick with it forever. But it does mean that if you’re constantly jumping from one thing to the next, you’re never giving yourself the chance to build real momentum.

Of course, it’s possible to excel at more than one thing. I’m sure you can think of someone who is. But if you look closely, even the most successful multi-hyphenates tend to focus deeply on one thing at a time. They go all-in on one skill or project for years before moving on to the next.

Think of the people you admire most in your industry. The writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators who have made a big impact. They weren’t just talented. They were focused. Their success wasn’t the result of doing everything, all the time. It was the result of doing one thing well for a very long time.

The illusion of chaotic productivity.

Chaotic ambition can feel productive. It can look productive. You’re in motion, you’re booked and busy, you’re doing multiple projects. But we all know being busy and being effective are not the same thing.

The constant cycle of starting and stopping means you might never reach the level required to truly excel. Instead of refining and evolving in one area, you're trapped in the ‘getting started’ phase on repeat. You’re rewriting the plan all over again.

The beginning phase becomes your comfort zone. If you’re always starting something new, you never have to face the discomfort of pushing through the difficult messy middle stages of a project. You never have to find a way to keep going when you’re bored and the shiny new feeling has worn off.

I know this because I’ve been there myself. I’ve had moments where I recognised I was doing too many things, trying to make progress but ultimately I was spreading myself thin. So now, when I feel the temptation to say yes to another thing, I resist it. Instead of adding more to the list, I’m focusing on doing less, but doing it better.

The power of sustained effort.

Imagine what would happen if all of that chaotic ambition, creativity, and energy were channeled into one direction. What if, instead of scattering your time and attention, you went all-in on one thing for the next 12 months?

This doesn’t mean giving up on everything else indefinitely. It means choosing a primary focus for now and seeing it through. It means resisting the urge to abandon ship the moment the excitement wears off. It means understanding that progress comes from deliberate action and repetition over time.

How to escape the chaotic ambition trap.

1. Identify Your North Star – What’s the one thing you want to be known for? What’s the skill, project, or mission that, if you gave it sustained attention, could have the biggest impact?

2. Create a ‘Not Now’ List – Write down all your other ideas and opportunities, but don’t pursue them right now. This list gives you permission to acknowledge your ideas without immediately acting on them.

3. Commit to a Time Frame – Give yourself a specific period (six months, a year) to go all in on one focus. No jumping ship. No starting something new. Just deliberate action and repetition.

4. Find Accountability – Share your goal with someone who can remind you to stay on track. Or find a mentor, a coach, or even just a trusted friend who will call you out when you start to veer off course.

5. Change Your Success Metrics – Instead of measuring success by how many things you’re doing, measure it by how well you’re doing that one thing. Depth over breadth. Quality over quantity.

One of the biggest reasons people fail to achieve big goals is the pursuit of lesser goals.

Finish what you start.

Whether you’re writing a book, running a marathon, or building a business. Starting is easy. Finishing is hard. The people who make the biggest impact aren’t the ones who start the most projects — they’re the ones who see things through.

So if you recognise yourself in this idea of chaotic ambition, ask yourself: What would happen if I were focused? What if, instead of saying yes to everything, I chose one thing and gave it my all?

The truth is, you don’t need more talent. You don’t need more ideas. You just need to decide on one direction—and then keep at it long enough to see how far you can go.

Thanks for reading!

Adrienne