Lack of Focus Can Hurt Your Business

Lack of Focus Can Hurt Your Business

Dr. Linda Hancock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Hancock has written a regular weekly column entitled “All Psyched Up” for newspapers in two Canadian provinces for more than a dozen years. Over the years, her readers and clients have said that they have benefited from her common-sense solutions, wisdom, and sense of humour. Dr. Linda Hancock, the author of “Life is An Adventure…every step of the way” and “Open for Business Success” is a Registered Psychologist who has a private practice in Medicine Hat. She can be reached at 403-529-6877 or through email office@drlindahancock.com

Published

February 27 2011

I got my first pair of eyeglasses when I was nine years of age. I remember how shocked I was to see everything in a clear and focussed way for the first time. The trees had leaves and there was an outline to everything that was quite shocking.

The funny thing is that I didn't really know how much I really needed those glasses until I got them!

That's how it is in business. Sometimes we work and work without having the knowledge that our vision is blurred and things are out of focus. We keep putting one foot infront of the other, without thinking that there is a better way to do things.

Then, all of a sudden, often without any notice, an idea appears and we realize that this is the exact thing that we have been needing. Everything is clear and the blur is gone.

There are several things you can do to improve your business vision:

1. Prepare a Business Plan - Writing things down usually allows you to see things that need to be done in a clear manner

2. Consult with a peer - When we discuss things with others, we sometimes are surprised at how "wise" the other person can be. Usually it is because they have had to figure things out before you did but might actually be behind you in other areas.

3. Take a course or attend a Conference - We need to seek knowledge and will be rewarded by doing so.

4. Trust yourself - Block off a day without any interruptions to go off somewhere on your own with a pad of paper and a pen. Write down all the challenges you are facing and then allow your brain to come up with some options. Do not discriminate. Everything is to be embraced as the idea may either resolve the issues or become part of the solution.

Many people tend to pretend things are fine and do not acknowledge that they have blurred vision. They try to hide the weaknesses and then wonder why things do not improve on their own. If you are doing this, I encourage you to remember the words to a beautiful old song entitled "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever".

Well you may not want or need to see forever, but if you do not have some vision for the future of your business, chances are that there won't be one.