Focusing On Long-Term Results Tough in Small Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Focusing On Long-Term Results Tough in Small Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Last Tuesday’s All-Star Game marked the unofficial mid-way point in the very long Major League Baseball season. This time in the baseball season always reminds me that in the marathon that is the baseball season athletes are conditioned not to get too high while on a winning streak or too low during a slump, because if the focus is on consistently practicing and refining the fundamentals of their trade, desired results will be achieved over the long haul. Small business owners need to maintain focus on a long-term perspective well beyond the length of a typical baseball season because as Bill Gates has said, “most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” Plus, building a company that performs like a champion, just like building an athletic team of championship caliber, takes time. The challenge for many small business leaders is that the distractions of the 21st Century make it increasingly difficult to maintain focus long enough to keep the progress going in the right direction. My friend and colleague Dov Gordon of www.DovGordon.net likes to remind me there are only three things a small business owner needs to maintain focus on: A clear focus on the desired end result. A simple and specific next step. How you need to “be” in the moment. Success is just a continual series of those simple and specific next steps. Yet, with the Internet and globalization bringing competition from around the world into virtually every small business’ backyard, the distractions are many. Too many small business leaders allow those distractions to get in the way of making simple decisions to stay on track. The first decision made by a Major League Baseball team towards its most desired end result is to win the World Series. What is your “World Series?” How do you define your small business’ “Championship Vision?” After that, the next two decisions will get you there. So, what is your “simple and specific next step?” How do you have to “be” to successfully execute that next step? Those are only three things you need to be thinking about right now on your journey to creating your championship company.