by Jim Reilly

Many times, the actions we take in life not only bring success but also teach us new, important ways of being in the world. For example, having a child teaches us to be more patient. Embarking on a new business venture may encourage us to become more courageous.

The power of disciplined focus is the secret of success. To focus means to bring your attention to the center, to concentrate on one thing intently in order to gain clarity. Teaching yourself to stay focused on one project, goal, or opportunity at a time will not only allow you to be more productive and effective, it can also challenge you to go more deeply into the task at hand and bring forth more creative insight and wisdom.

Many times we try to - cover all the bases, respond to every opportunity, or provide every possible service that someone might need, in the hopes of striking a deal, thus success. But the truth is, long-term and sustainable success often comes from the ability to stay focused on one project or one goal at a time.

To determine whether or not you may be having trouble focusing, answer the following questions:

1. Do you find yourself generating so many new ideas that you never get started on one?
2. Are you easily distracted during the day and feel as though you never get anything completed?
3. Does your brochure list so many products or services that it confuses potential customers?

Since we are creative beings, it makes sense that we would want to pursue many interests or travel several paths at once. But remember that when you expend your energy in several directions, you weaken the power behind one. Is there a project or goal that needs your devoted attention?

Take An ACTION Challenge…

During the next week pick a project or goal and devote your focused energy to it every day. Choose a preplanned amount of time, schedule it in your diary, and challenge yourself to stay on purpose. You might decide to use this focused time for something related to self care, writing an article, guiding the team, or marketing your business. Simply shut the door, turn off the ringer on the phone, post a Do Not Disturb sign, or do whatever it takes to keep your attention and action focused on what is important.

Each time you are tempted to sway toward something else, bring your attention back to the present. When your mind starts to wander, remind yourself to stay focused by using a simple mantra like: “I do complete work.” Using this mantra will help you build your “focus muscle". Once you get better at staying focused, you will not only be less tempted by distractions, you will be more engaged.

This week I will focus my attention on: ______________________________

Jim

Jim Reilly is a business coach and seminar presenter with ActionCOACH Business Coaching, the world’s #1 coaching firm. For more information on Jim’s upcoming events or to lean how Jim can help your team, call Jim at 845-628-7887 or visit www.action6steps.com.

by Marty Smith

Are you “investing” your time working ON your business or “spending” it working IN your business?

The challenge I find a lot of Business Owners face today is that they are so busy working in their business that they cannot see the full potential of their business. So many times I look at a business and think the owner is doing well, only to discover on talking to them, that they are not even earning as much, (when their income is converted to an hourly rate), as their top employees.

A while ago, we had a client who owned a commercial cleaning business. This client used to work each week doing the cleaning himself. When asked how much would it cost to employ someone to do the cleaning he was doing, he replied “about $600 per week”. He was then asked how much extra business he could generate if he spent this same time in a week looking for new customers. He said he could generate about $5000 worth of new business in a week.

It’s obvious, looking from an outsider’s perspective that the logical thing for the owner to do is employ a cleaner to work in the business so that the owner can work on the business.

How much mundane work are you doing that could often be completed by a teenager after school? Think about your business. How much work do you do that could be done by a junior or a casual, or maybe even a semi-retired person?

What are your opportunity costs? What value do you place on your time? How much extra business could you generate if you employed someone to do the day-to-day work?

What would it mean to your customers and your business if you were “freed up” to follow-up enquires that haven’t been chased up, socializing with customers, encouraging them to come back, or phoning existing customers to see if there is anything they require? The bottom line is you could be spending time on vital sales and marketing, but you’re bogged down doing the day-to-day, time-consuming, physical work that someone else could be doing.

How much time do you spend developing new marketing strategies, analyzing Measure & Test results, instigating relationships with other businesses and the host of other necessary activities that make the difference between a successful business and an average business?

There are a lot of things that a Business Owner needs to get done in an average day. Successful Business Owners are those that do the things that are important in maximizing profit rather than concentrating on the “urgent problems” that arise every day.

Use professional advisors to help you in areas you aren’t an expert. Get yourself a competent accountant and hire a bookkeeper, these sorts of people will save you time and money.

For example, if you were to invest in a Real Estate Development, you would take it for granted that you needed to hire the services of a Project Manager to advise you or to co-ordinate the Architect, Draughtsman, Town Planner, Finance Manager, Construction Manager, Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, etc.

When we get involved in business, most of us do so with little or no assistance at all. Yet “a business” as an investment can and does, when well managed, out perform every other type of investment.

Take the challenge and look at your business as an investment. Look for a return on your invested capital as well as an hourly rate of pay in excess of your top employees.

Review what happened last year, analyse the results you achieved, see what adjustments you need to make to obtain the results you require, plan next year and look at what assistance you require to obtain the desired result.

Remember above all else, time spent working on your business is far more important than time spent working in it.

Marty Smith is an ActionCOACH Business Coach. To learn more about Marty visit www.actioncoach.com/martysmith.