Clarity: The scalpel of Focus

I'm currently taking a client of mine through the process of creating a business plan.

You bored yet?

Don't be, you can use this whoever you are I promise.

I'm assuming that if you're reading this blog post you didn't just pop out of the womb today. It's probably safe to say that you've been "doing" life for a while.

Well just like you, this client of mine didn't just start their business today. They've been in business for a while. But they've lacked the clarity that they really needed to be effective.

Sometimes in life, or business, it's time to say "Giddy-up!" Other times it's better to say "WHOA, Horsey, WHOA!" Well for this client we had to tug on those reins and slow down a bit.

And in doing so we gave ourselves the permission to go back to the drawing board and ask, "What are we doing and why are we doing it?"

When was the last time you asked yourself this?

One of my blog readers, Kevin (thanks Kev!), gave me a great quote which some of you may have heard: "Insanity is doing the same over and over but expecting to get different results."

Yikes.

Been feeling insane lately? Been spinning your wheels without gaining any traction?

If so, then feel free to do what I've been helping my clients do. Define your values and vision. They did and they immediately closed the doors of one of their businesses. It didn't fit into their vision even though they were poised to take immediate action in that business. They suddenly had the power to say No. 

Today we created goals and objectives, and later this week we'll move onto strategies, actions and plans. We start big and in the future and move progressively down to creating very solid, specific tasks that we can do today.

We gain focus when we become clear. We give ourselves the right, the permission, and the authority to start cutting away the things that don't belong in our lives out of ruthless necessity.

Try picking up your scalpel and seeing what you can do with it. Let me know how you do and also let me know if I can help!