Build a Focused Business: Success Lies Not in Breadth, But in Depths

Build a Focused Business: Success Lies Not in Breadth, But in Depth

Posted August 16, 2012 by Dave Crenshaw

NOTE: At the bottom of this post, I’m going to tell you how you can win a signed copy of my first book, The Myth of Multitasking.

Before you started your business, you probably worried about finding just the right opportunity.

But now that you’re running the show, there are almost too many opportunities for you to make money, aren’t there? It’s difficult not to be distracted by every “next great idea” that appears in front of you.

Ever felt like you’ve wasted time chasing “new” ideas that didn’t quite pan out? If so, this video tip is just what you’ve been looking for!

What about the book contest? Just for fun, leave a comment for your chance to win a signed copy of my first book, The Myth of Multitasking.

Action Steps:

Start a conversation by leaving a comment below. Share what you feel can best contribute to a focused business.
The businessperson who leaves the most insightful comment wins a signed copy of my first book, The Myth of Multitasking.

Principles:

“Effective” multitasking is a myth because you lose more time switching tasks than you gain by doing too many things at the same time.
Doing this at the “macro” level, splitting attention between multiple businesses, is like multitasking on steroids.
When entrepreneurs stay focused and committed to one business, they find it easier to succeed.
Olympians and businesses alike succeed not in breadth, but in depth; the strength of their focus.

Tags: Business Owner, CEO, Chaos, Dave Crenshaw, Entrepreneurship, Focus, focused business, opportunity

Katy Nims

Love your book Dave (I’ve actually used it for a doorprize at networking events). Delighted to see you tackling this issue as it’s one I hear over and over again. (three words — overwhelm, lack of focus/motivation and inability to make decisions). Accepting that you “can’t do everything” (& shouldn’t anyway) is part of the underlying issue for us so creating that “north start” for our business and then holding other choices up to it as we expand is one way I might talk about it.

http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

“North Star” is a great visual aid for this, Katy, At least for those of us in the Northern hemisphere. Thank you!

zalikhan

Hi Dave, I would think that many of my peers would consider me to be quite successful and I have done well. But my issue has been been a lack of consistent focus thus causing many of the things that I want to get done to stay by the wayside. I sincerely believe I can get many of these tasks accomplished by staying focussed at one thing at a time. But alas, too many distractions and road blocks come into my way that I do not manage well and thus I go off track. I will download your book and start to implement the strategies that you suggest. Thanks!

http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

Thanks for the candid self-assessment, zalikhan. And thanks for buying my book!

zalikhan

Thanks Dave, Just downloaded the book and will read it over the weekend! Zeya

Fred F.

Hi Dave,
For me, it always boils down to two core concepts: Vision & Roadmap.Vision – I need to be able to clearly see the target! So, once I find an idea or the idea finds me, I try to see the end result; the outcome and I keep turning the dials of my mental binoculars until it becomes crystal clear. I mean a 20/20 vision!Then, I marinade the vision for a few days to make sure it is in alignment with my nature, my principles and basically who I am as a person. Meaning matching what I love with what I do! Eventually the internal momentum turns in to an intuitive nudge and the light turns green.Roadmap – This is homework time for me. It is the contextual time to take everything into consideration. I create a navigation map with 5 starting points: product, operations, marketing, personnel, finance and a final destination point, the “Target”. I research and develop each step and expand from there.

From this point on, I schedule my working days around visiting the vision and measuring & redefining the roadmap. This daily process becomes a system which keeps me focused. And, when I derail, I just go back to the map…

http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

Using that roadmap is a sound principle, Fred. Thank you for sharing!
http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

Fred F. Congrats! Your post was chosen as the winner. Please reach out to us via
http://davecrenshaw.com/contact-dave/ with your mailing address to claim your prize. (Be sure to mention the same email you used to make your post.)

Jordan Gross

SQUIRREL!!!

http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

10 points for the Pixar movie reference.

Jane

You can play all of the strategies you want to achieve an effective, ongoing focus. If a genuine service to others approach is not a part of that equation other factors like greed or lack of purpose have the potential to interfere with or undermine that focus. The old saying you get what you give applies here. Even to zoologists I believe…!
Jennifer Harmon

Thank you Dave. I feel to build a focused business you have to be intentional and consistent in your efforts each day. Brian Tracy talks about eating a frog (do your most difficult task first and get it out of the way), each day. I say, “eat three frogs a day, before I go play”. (“play” means before I permit myself to be distracted by things like Facebook and other things that may not bring me closer to my goal).

http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

Thank you Jennifer. I have that book by Brian on my shelf.

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