Control vs. Influence

Most people waste time on stuff they can’t do anything about. Markets. Other people’s opinions. The news. They stress over it, rant about it, get distracted by it. But none of that changes anything.

Here’s the reality:

• Some things you control.
• Some things you can influence.
• Everything else is just noise.

That distinction is everything. Lose sight of it, and you burn time, energy, and attention. Stay clear on it, and you move faster, stay calmer, and make better decisions.

In business, it’s obvious. You don’t control investors, the economy, or what competitors do. You influence them—through clarity, execution, timing. But you do control your speed, your messaging, your systems.

Founders screw this up all the time. They obsess over market trends or why someone said no, instead of tightening their process and shipping faster. Wasted cycles.

Same with health. You don’t control how motivated you feel, or your genetics. But you influence outcomes through habits, environment, and systems. You control your setup. Not how you feel today—but whether you’re making good choices easier to repeat.

Zoom out: the economy runs the same way. Prices aren’t controlled—they emerge from millions of decisions. Entrepreneurs don’t fight that. They adapt, position well, move fast. That’s influence.

If you’re frustrated, ask yourself:

• Is this in my control? If yes, act.
• Can I influence it? If yes, plan.
• If it’s just a concern? Drop it.

This isn’t theory—it’s survival. Operating without this filter is like driving blind.

Bottom line:

Control what’s yours. Influence what you can. Let go of the rest. That’s how you stay sane and make real progress. Everything else is noise.