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In 2010, when I started my online business, my biggest strength was (and always has been) taking action. My ability to ‘just do’ has helped me build both 6 & 7 figure online businesses over the years. However, my Achilles heels have been inconsistency and a lack of focus.
While I’ve experienced pretty decent success along the way, my businesses have lacked longevity. I sold one, which was a win, but I’ve been in a constant cycle of starting over, which has revealed a lack of clarity in my long-term vision and to be brutally honest has highlighted my own self doubts as a creator.
Unfortunately in our bid to become lifestyle entrepreneurs and live our dream lives, there are many obstacles to overcome, the main ones being our own self imposed limitations.
And in dealing with our fears, we tend to ignore or deviate from our true goals, taking on busywork rather than creating a super clear vision, path and action plan towards our goals.
This usually presents as chasing every shiny new opportunity, leaving previous projects unfinished, or getting bogged down with multitasking or majoring in the minor, which hampers productivity.
The common thread through it all is a lack of focus and consistency, which not only hinders progress but can also result in burnout. (I’ll tell you my burnout story another time!)
You can of course achieve your goals, and do what you want to do/be who you want to be, but first you have to be honest about what it is you truly want to achieve (own your ego as Gary Vee said many years ago). Then set a path to achieve that dream, focusing on the following three strategies;
(Please note from my own experience, having one of these will get you so far, two together even further, but the magic happens when you align all three)
1. Consistency
Think about someone you admire, perhaps a mentor or an industry leader. What’s one quality they all seem to possess?
Is it;
- How they consistently deliver value?
- How they’re always present?
- How they effortlessly stay on top of the latest trends?
This is the power of consistency.
Consistency is about regularity, reliability and time. It’s about creating a clear, long term vision, taking the right daily actions, and letting time compound your efforts. You need to set a bar and maintain it for as long as it takes.
True consistency isn’t just a few months of effort, it’s years of focused daily action taking.
Now reflect on your own entrepreneurial journey. Are you being consistent? Are you willing to trudge the same path for years to come?
If not, why not?
- Have you got a clear long term vision?
- Do you have a specific plan of what you need to be doing every day to move you towards your goals?
- What beliefs and fears do you need to deal with to get out of your own way?
To achieve consistency, create exciting and compelling goals and milestones. Then stick to them. Create routines, and set small, achievable targets.
You can also leverage apps and tools to batch tasks and schedule content. This way, you’ll not only be productive but also ensure that your audience can rely on you to consistently deliver what they need.
2. Focus
Imagine where your business could be if all your energy was channelled towards a clear goal.
In my journey, I realised that my actions, although plentiful, were dispersed. The lack of clarity in my long-term vision prevented me from harnessing the full potential of my efforts.
Being focused is about having a clear sense of purpose. It’s knowing what you want and making decisions that align with this vision. And if you think you don’t know what you want, dig deeper, look beyond the fear and self doubt and pick the one thing that scares you the most. That’s likely your biggest goal.
Then write it down. Do my favourite perfect day exercise to get absolute clarity on what you want your business and life to look like.
Then break your goals down into smaller, manageable milestones. Get clear on what you want to achieve this year, in the next 6 months, 3 months, 1 month, 1 week, each day.
Get yourself an accountability partner at a similar stage of their own journey and work together to keep each other focused and consistent with your actions.
As for daily focus, minimise distractions and allocate specific times for specific tasks. Also try using focus tools, like the Pomodoro Technique, to keep your attention sharp. (I use the Pomodone App, it’s very effective.)
3. Action
Taking action is vital, but as I’ve learned, it’s most effective when coupled with consistency and focus.
Being an action taker has its merits – it keeps you agile and propels you forward. However, action without direction is merely motion.
To ensure that your actions are not just busywork, it’s crucial to align them with your focused goals.
Develop a to-do list that directly contributes to your milestones. Prioritise the right tasks and allocate time accordingly. But also be adaptable – sometimes taking action involves reassessing and adjusting your course.
Reflect on your progress weekly so you know if you’re moving in the right direction, and if not, can quickly tweak your efforts.
Also remember to celebrate small wins as they come; they are proof you’re taking the right actions. Build on them to create a foundation for your ultimate goals.
There’s a saying I wholeheartedly agree with;
“Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.”
While 10 years may seem a long time away it goes by in the blink of an eye, and by setting your sights years in the future & taking small steps every single day to inch closer to your goals, you’ll achieve so much more than you believe possible.
Your Challenge
Ask yourself, are you focused on your goals and taking consistent action? If not, what’s stopping you? A clear plan? Your own fears and self doubts?
Dig deep this week and get clear on what your true goals are. Then, make a plan you believe you can stick to for as long as it takes.
Check out my perfect day exercise and have a read through these goal planning sheets to help.
I hope today’s edition has given you some food for thought.
Have an amazing week and as always make it happen!
Jo 🙂