Many summers ago, I attended Boston Pops concerts at Tanglewood Music Center with a group of friends. We would arrive at our campground on Friday afternoon; attend as many concerts as possible Friday and Saturday, and head home on Sunday. Some weekends 20 of us would show up. Other weekends only six could make it.
One weekend only two of us made the trip, and over a late night snack of coffee and apple pie, we determined that we both wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail end-to-end. A dream was born, and a plan was created and executed. I can still see that “aha moment” in my mind’s eye.
You probably can remember the exact moment your idea for your company emerged. You put your heart and soul into making your important dream a reality. Congratulations – that takes an enormous amount of focus, sweat, tears, and fortitude.
But somewhere along the way you veered away from your important dream. Perhaps someone came to you with a slightly different way of pursuing your important dream. Or a related product or service caught your attention and you considered pursuing it.
It doesn’t take much for a business to get off track with the many distractions presented to us each day. As a leader, your job is to establish your company’s Core Focus, keep it in the forefront of your mind, and guide your team in that direction.
What is Your Core Focus?
Your company’s Core Focus is the reason your company exists. It’s your purpose, your niche, and the “why” your company exists. It has also been referred to as a mission statement, a vision statement, or a sweet spot. Once you identify it, you need to stick to it and devote your energy and resources to exceeding at it.
No one said being a business owner was easy. When presented with a new opportunity, your job is to identify whether that new opportunity is within your company’s Core Focus, or if it’s a distraction. It might be tempting to jump on the new opportunity, especially when you are feeling bored or overwhelmed. The new opportunity might seem like an easier or more exciting path.
EOS refers to these opportunities as “the shiny stuff,” because they are distractions that take you away from your Core Focus.
It is time to turn away from those distractions, and return to your important dream.
When your Core Focus is clear, you can stay fixated on it with your entire being, and avoid every distraction that comes your way.
Your Core Focus also leads to building a solid team – one that exemplifies your guiding principles. You’ll recruit the right people, and ensure that those people are occupying the right seats in your organization.
Your Core Focus takes the guesswork out of the many decisions you are required to make each day. You can scale your company so it is ready to grow when the opportunity is right.
This is your important dream – the one that deserves your full attention. Revisit your dream, and re-identify your Core Focus.
Do you need help getting back to your dream and finding your Core Focus? If so, contact us. We can help.
About EOS
EOS is a holistic management system with simple tools that help you do three things we call vision, traction, healthy. Vision from the standpoint of first getting your leaders 100% on the same page with where your organization is going. Traction from the standpoint of helping your leaders to become more disciplined and accountable, executing really well to achieve every part of your vision. Healthy meaning helping your leaders to become a healthy, functional, cohesive leadership team.
