Something We Can All Use a Little More Of
Over a year ago, a client came to me with a problem. He had four businesses and he was looking for help with starting a fifth one.
One of his businesses was over 5 years old and had been successful in the first few years. However, its success diminished recently as it funded the start-up of businesses #2, #3, and #4. Then, this fifth business was being investigated and the client needed some help with some of the ins and outs of the business.
We sat down to look at his business plan. It seemed sound; it was based on research; the projections were realistic. All projections but one: When was he going to spend the time on this business? I asked about the other business he ran (which he had started before coming to me so I wasn’t as familiar with them). He admitted that they were all struggling. He made a livable 5 figure income each year, which came in primarily from 2 of the businesses.
So I asked him: You have 2 businesses that earn you 5 figures; 2 more businesses that earn next to nothing and you want to start a fifth business? He also talked excited about a sixth business as well. To make matters worse, these businesses didn’t share anything in common; they were spread across 4 (soon to be 5) different industries.
This client lacked focus. Focus is something we can all use a little more of sometimes.
- Focus is about identifying just a few things we want to do and then eliminating everything else
- Focus is about working within a methodology that is the best we have and ignoring other options even if they seem good
- Focus is about excelling at something and accepting that you won’t excel at other things
In business, for example, you might be tempted to try all kinds of marketing channels but you’ll be more successful when you stick to a handful. Or, in your coaching practice, you might be tempted to offer a variety of services but you’ll be more successful when you focus on just a couple.
Focusing does mean giving something else up. And what makes it challenging is that we often have the "grass-is-greener" mentality about the thing we’re giving up! But when we lack focus, it steals our attention and energy and our ability to get a good amount accomplished on one thing.
Now, of course it’s okay to try new things. After all, we’d never get anywhere if we didn’t. But we just need to be careful that we’re not adopting new practices without first testing them and giving thought to how they might benefit us.
One of my favorite books on focus is Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt’s book The Power of Focus. Pick up this book; it is well worth the investment for your business and for you to help your clients to focus!
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