The Myth of Focus: Why Great SaaS Operators Run Multiple Bets at Once

Read time: 3 minutes.

Welcome to the 141st edition of The Growth Elements Newsletter. Every Monday and sometimes on Thursday, I write an essay on growth metrics & experiments and business case studies.

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Every VC says: "Focus, focus, focus."
But the best SaaS operators rarely bet on just one thing at a time.

They understand something most don’t:
Single-threaded GTM is fragile.
Multi-threaded GTM is resilient.

Why the "Single-Bet" Myth Hurts SaaS

Focusing everything on one channel, product bet, or GTM motion sounds strategic but usually ends in disaster:

• Channels die: Organic algorithms shift, paid CAC spikes.

• Products stall: Core bets can miss market timing.

• Competitive advantage shrinks: Competitors copy your only play.

When you place only one bet, you risk losing everything if it falters.

How Multi-Threaded Operators Win

The best SaaS operators run multiple bets simultaneously, not from distraction, but from resilience.

I recommend always running at least 2–3 parallel bets, let’s look at GTM bets:

• Core bet: Your proven winner (eg: SEO, paid LinkedIn, PLG).

• Adjacent bet: A safe extension (eg: outbound email, partnerships).

• Exploratory bet: High-risk, high-reward experiments (eg: AI-driven personalization, new pricing structures).

Multi-Threaded GTM in Practice

Here’s how it looks in our weekly operating cadence:

Results:

• Lower CAC volatility: If paid channels experience spikes, SEO helps cushion the impact.

• Higher speed-to-insight: More tests = quicker learning.

• Scalable learnings: Wins from one bet inform others.

Operator Lessons Learned

• Multi-threaded ≠ scattered. It's structured, deliberate diversification.

• "Focus" doesn't mean a single bet. It means disciplined prioritisation across multiple parallel bets.

• You don't eliminate risk with single-threaded focus—you multiply it.

Final Operator Takeaway

In SaaS, "focus" often means strategic vulnerability.
The best operators never bet everything on one channel, product, or playbook.

They run multiple bets, structured with clear roles and expectations.

Because in SaaS, resilience always beats reliance.

That's it for today's article! I hope you found this essay insightful.

Wishing you a productive week ahead!

I always appreciate you reading.

Thanks,
Chintankumar Maisuria