In the previous installment we reviewed the various definitions and synonyms for the word "focus."
In the business sense, focus is critical, even indispensable. If you run a solo business and you haven't mastered the skill of bringing focus to a task, you will be wasting time, effort, and resources which will cause your business to be less productive and efficient than it could be.
By applying focus to everything you do in your business operation, you are selectively directing all your attention and vision toward a narrow and distinct purpose. Once a task or problem is handled, your focus switches to the next issue.
Solo business owners are master jugglers, able to keep many balls in the air at the same time.
So let's look at the seven most critical ways you can apply focus to your solo business to ensure that it will be a raging success!
1. Have a clear focus of what you are, where you're going, and how you'll get there. As you lay out a plan for your business, you should be creating a very distinct image of what and where you are and where you're headed.
If you're not clear about your business and its direction, your customers will also be confused and you won't have a distinct and measurable path to success and profitability.
2. Focus on the wants of your target market, your customers. This particular area of focus is critical. Your opinion about what they want doesn't really matter.
If your products and their features are designed around your own wishes and ideas, there's a good chance you'll develop a product that only you will love. Focus your research on very specifically asking your customers what they want.
3. Focus on daily execution of the little details that cumulatively bring big success. Consistent effort over time, in the performance of the daily business operating routine, and avoiding the wasting of time on unimportant details and activities, is the direct path to your business success.
4. Focus on the bottom line. In every activity throughout the day that requires your time, ask the question, "How does this task increase my business revenue?"
Sure, some tasks are more directly related to actual profits being realized than others. For instance, you may spend time managing your customer mailing list. That task may not be as directly related to actual income generation as, say, making a sales pitch to a customer that has called asking for some product information. That's OK.
What you need to avoid are the time-wasters that have no bearing on your ability to add to the bottom line. A good example would be "shooting the bull" with a vendor that you don't plan to do business with, but you have fun talking to him because he has so many good stories to tell.
5. Focus on growing your business through systems, research and marketing. I don't know of too many other ways to increase your business. New systems will help you to become more efficient - to produce more income with less effort and/or cost.
Research and development add to your business because they open up new markets to your sales message and allow you to add new products and services that bring additional sources of income to your company.
6. Focus on helping others and having fun. I once heard it said, "What's the use of being in business if you can't do some good for other people, have some fun, and make some money in the process?"
You can find this focus by exploring the reasons you're in business. If the profit motive is the sole reason your company exists, you will never be satisfied with your firm's performance.
7. Focus on keeping balance in your life. Yes, this is a tricky one. There's no across-the-board blueprint or master plan for success here. Everyone is different and must keep focus on what they value above all else.
Hopefully, your business is not at the top of the priority list. Most of us are in business to provide the means whereby we can enjoy and participate in the activities (and with the people) we value.
