A couple months ago, my team and I went to the arcade for a photoshoot. But let’s be real—I never pass up a chance to turn things into a little friendly competition. (If you’ve ever played a game with me, you know I’m in it to win it!)

So there we were, running around, playing all the games, collecting tickets, and just having a blast. And somewhere between all the flashing lights and me trying way too hard to win a game meant for kids, something hit me…

Business and leadership? They’re kind of like an arcade.

The Chaos of Growth

Arcades are loud, overstimulating, and full of distractions. There’s always something calling your attention—a new game, flashing lights, and the constant noise of people winning, losing, and chasing after the next big prize.

Sounds a lot like running a business, right?

When you’re growing, things move fast. And if you’re not careful, you can end up jumping from one thing to the next, trying to keep up with it all—chasing wins, fixing problems, and trying to make sure everyone is happy.

And that’s where I found myself recently. Not in an actual arcade (well, also there), but in my business. Growing pains hit, and suddenly, I realized I was making decisions that weren’t fully aligned with my bigger vision. Not because I didn’t know better—but because I was too busy trying to keep everyone else happy.

The Biggest Leadership Mistake? Forgetting Your Why.

When you’re in the middle of massive growth, it’s easy to get caught up in everything—the pressure, the opinions, the desire to do right by everyone. You start making moves just to keep up, to smooth things over, to avoid letting anyone down.

But here’s the thing: Your purpose is your North Star.

If you let distractions, outside noise, or the fear of disappointing people pull you away from that, you’ll lose sight of why you started in the first place.

Just like at the arcade, you can’t win every game. And if you spread yourself too thin, running from one thing to the next, you might end up with a pocket full of tickets but no real prize.

Staying Focused on the Big Picture

So here’s what I’m reminding myself of (and maybe you need this, too):

✔️ Stay true to your vision. Not everyone will understand it, and that’s okay.

✔️ Lead with purpose, not pressure. Making moves just to keep people happy will only leave you unhappy.

✔️ The right people will align with your mission. And the ones who don’t? They were never meant to be part of the long game.

Growth is supposed to stretch you—but it shouldn’t break you. Stay focused. Lead with intention. And don’t get so caught up in the flashing lights that you forget what you came here to win.

And next time you feel yourself making decisions just to keep up, ask yourself: Is this aligned with my North Star? Or am I just playing every game in the arcade, hoping for a win?

The best leaders don’t just play—they strategize.

What’s a leadership lesson that’s stuck with you lately? Let’s chat in the comments!

XO- Jessica Mattevi