Conehead Syndrome: Why Focused Founders Still Need a Damn Mirror
Let’s talk about the Cone of Commitment. Have you ever seen a dog with one of those ridiculous plastic cones on its head after surgery? Poor thing’s bumpin’ into walls, can’t lick its wounds, and
God help it if it tries to look sideways. That, my friend, is what being a business owner feels like 90% of the time.
You’re locked in. Nose forward. Tunnel vision like a German Shepherd chasing a tennis ball through traffic. And hey—that’s what makes you dangerous in a good way. That cone? It’s what gets product to market, closes deals, and keeps payroll from bouncing. It’s why one in ten of us even make it. But here’s the curse…
You stop seeing what’s next to you.
Like, literally right next to you—that new vertical that’s 5 degrees off-center, the intro your peer tried to make last month, or the 10x opportunity buried in that “maybe later” email. The very focus that fuels your grind also blinds you to the growth sitting just outside your field of vision.So what do most entrepreneurs do? Double down. Tighten the cone. “If I just push harder, I’ll break through.” No. You’ll just run faster into the same f\*\*\*ing wall.
This is why boards, coaches, consultants, and peers aren’t a luxury—they’re oxygen. Not because you’re dumb. Not because they’re smarter. But because you’re in the game, head down, sweaty, and trying to win. And they’re up in the box seats with a better view of the field yelling, “Hey, dipshit, there’s a wide-open lane to your left!”
You don’t need less focus—you need better? (or additional? or Increased?) perspective.
The cone isn’t the problem. It’s necessary. It gets you through the mess. But it needs a counterbalance. A team. A tribe. A braintrust that slaps you across the head and goes, “Did you even see what just opened up over there?” and “You have tried that three times without success, why do you think a fourth will be different?”
That’s what synergy is. It’s not some fluffy consultant word. It’s the multiplier effect of seeing the moves you can’t make alone. It’s being smart enough to know when you’re the conehead—and trusting the people who can see around it.
So here’s the move:
- Keep the cone. Just don’t duct tape it to your damn skull.
- Build a team who can see sideways. Around corners?
- Take the damn call. Listen. Adjust.
- Learn how to play chess, not checkers.
- Stop pretending the solo grind is noble. It’s just exhausting.
And if you ever start thinking “I’ve got this all figured out,” remember: even a dog knows when to stop and sniff something new.
Let’s not miss the 10x because we were too busy chasing 1x the hard way.