By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 22, 2026
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard the phrase “the blinding flash of the obvious” more times than you can count. But have you ever really thought about what it means?
In its simplest terms, it means that someone is too involved in the details of a problem to see what is really going on.* It is like you are wearing sunglasses (filter), which reduces the intensity of the light, making it more difficult to distinguish what you are looking at. Are you like that? Are you so focused on what is right in front of you that you can’t see the obvious?
By removing your sunglasses (which act as a filter), you can begin to see the true picture. Recently, I asked a client to complete a homework assignment to lock in what she was learning by summarizing her journey. Graciously, she agreed to allow me to share what she wrote:
“I am a professional writer who has always had a natural aptitude and talent for writing; as a result, I had a belief system that this is what I ‘should’ be doing in the world. For years, I embarked on this writing profession, building a client base and expanding my portfolio, and at times, making a lot of money. Yet, I was unfulfilled. Something was missing.
“This was never my vision for myself. I always envisioned myself working with people and writing books that would impact humanity in a more positive light-not doing financial and technical writing. ‘But,’ I rationalized, ‘I need money to live. How can I earn a living doing the stuff I like doing? It won’t pay the bills.’ The reality was that I hated doing the kind of writing I was doing. It was lonely and uninspiring.
“I came to coaching with a desire to get on track, and I was willing to face the tough questions and make some changes. Through the process, I discovered that my real passion (and strength) is helping people through collaboration, and writing is simply a means to an end or an expression of that collaboration.
“When I looked back on my life, I discovered that I always excelled and felt most inspired when I was working with others and felt part of a team, whether it was as a writer who was part of a big ‘team’ project, at church sharing thoughts and ideas, playing tennis with a double’s partner, volunteering and being part of a bigger cause, being in a book club, organizing functions, etc. The point is that ‘people’ and ‘helping’ and ‘creativity’ are my passions, and writing serves that purpose.
“This realization was a major shift for me because I discovered that by focusing on the writing exclusively, because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do, I was missing the bigger picture of my life. As we continue to work together, Jeff and I are both looking forward to how this new ‘picture’ of my life will unfold, given that my talents, passions, and goals are now in alignment.”
Do you see how she was caught up in the details? She thought her writing skills were her true passion, when in fact her real passion is drawing out the best in people, or helping people through collaboration, and that writing is just a vehicle to do that. As she changed her belief system, she began to see what had always been.
With a new belief system, she began to pay attention to the consistent reoccurring patterns of success in her life! Do you sense the surprise… or the blinding flash of the obvious when she realized the natural pattern in her life?
With her sunglasses off and the discovery of what her true passions are, we are both excited about harnessing the power of her passions and the possibilities this will yield for her future.
*The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition, 2002: http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/cantseethefo.html.