As A Business Owner You Need To Focus To Grow
How crazy is it that airline pilots for Northwest had their heads so deep in their laptops back in October 2009 that they actually flew 150 miles past their airport?!
With a pilot, co-pilot, auto-pilot, ground control, three to five flight attendants, and a whole lot of passengers who—presumably—know where they're going, how does that type of "head in the clouds" (literally) type of mistake happen?
(That's why I don't feel bad keeping my iPhone on during takeoffs and landings. I can use the GPS to tell the web surfers up front when it's time to land!)
Now let me ask you something: What safeguards do you have in place to ensure you stay on track and hit your goals?
Now let me ask you something else: How many opportunities have you missed because you were distracted or too focused on a process you thought was "safe" or "proven" or maybe it was just...comfortable?
It's easy to get comfortable, isn't it?
As entrepreneurs it's hard to continue to push yourself alone, which is where we get the adage:
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
[Sidebar: That's why I love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
We never train alone, which is why I've come far so fast. I was stagnant in my exercise routines.
I had gained some weight.
Rarely would I exercise more than 30 minutes and the routines were not intense.
Now I'm going 4-5 days per week—sometimes 6!—for at least 90 minutes and more times than not I'll spend two full hours getting after it.
The results?
- Lost 15 pounds
- Getting suits tailored because my pants are falling off
- Received three stripes on my white belt in 6.5 months
- I'm competing in my first tournament in 2.5 weeks (back in late 2017)
- My cardio is off the charts (resting heart rate around 64 beats per minute)
- I've developed a group of lifelong friends, which tends to happen when you try to kill and/or maim one another on a daily basis!
But I digress.]
It's time to change up your processes.
It's time to get out from behind your computer, put your smart phone down, and stare out the window.
It's time to go for a walk, notice your surroundings, look people in the eye, smile, (take up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!) and take time to live an actual life instead of just a virtual life.
If you own a business, what vital tasks are you putting off because you're "busy" on your computer?
What vital tasks are your salespeople putting off because they're "researching" the competition?
What are you and your staff not addressing head on while you have your faces buried in your machines?
Be careful to not get distracted with the urgent and avoid the important.
Market like you mean it.
Now go sell something.
