Costly Mistake #1: Lack of Focus

Do you want more clients or customers, more money, perhaps more time off? Exactly what do you want? Most people don’t take the time to gain clarity on what they want OR try to go after many different things at one time and get nowhere fast.

Entrepreneurially-minded people often have lots of ideas. The problem is they want them all NOW. When you scatter your energy amongst too many new things at one time, you are likely to make much slower progress than if you focus on one new project or concept at a time.

This does not mean you need to do the same thing all day long. Variety is the spice of life and is important for many of us. It just means pick one new learning curve at a time unless you have a team or a partner to support you in getting through the start-up phase of more than one project at a time.

So how do you get focused? I would start by looking the big picture. What is it you want to attain in the long run? A full practice? Re-occurring stream of passive income? A six-or seven –figure income? Time off to travel and do all the things you’ve been wanting to do? Perhaps you want all of the above.

Having a big dream is great and it is important to chunk it down into doable steps so it does not get too overwhelming.

In my group coaching programs I ask people to set an interim goal that you would like to accomplish over the next six months that would be a stepping stone goal towards the big dream?

Examples might be attract “x” number of new clients, or $x.xx in sales
Make it a stretch, yet doable.

What is your six-month stepping stone goal?

Write it down:______________________

Now what one or two things can you do that are fun and joyful for you and a good use of your talents that you can focus on to attain this goal?

Examples might be holding free seminars, developing a training program, placing a Google ad, holding a party, etc. Choose to either do something you have done before with good results and aim for even better results or pick something new and learn what you need to do to implement it. Notice what other people have done that appeal to you. Pick something that makes you smile (not something that feels like a drudge)

Focus your energy on this method and move forward one step at a time.

Now you have 3 points of focus. Your big vision, your interim six-month stepping stone goal and an initial marketing methodology to implement.

If there are other new project ideas, volunteer work, and other things that will distract you from your six-month goal, place them on hold while you bring this one up to speed. Once it is bringing in the desired revenue stream, then take on the next project.

Most entrepreneurs resist this advice. I find myself resisting it from time to time as I have so many things I want to do. But when I focus in on one NEW idea at a time things happen much more quickly.

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What's Coming Up Next?
Costly Mistake #2: The Lone Ranger Mentality
I’m going to chat about the lone ranger mentality and why having a good support team
Is less expensive than not having one.

Stay tuned...