Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi SuNers,

I mentioned in another post that I am starting my business officially in January 2007. But before I can kick start it, I would like to know what you guys did to stay focused? I tend to get all over the place and end up accomplishing nothing at all.

What I mean by that is that I get excited about new websites and new software, and I want to try everything or read everything.

I want to focus on relevant subjects only. Can you guys describe what are your preferred items among the stuff below?

Blogs - what are the ones you read all the time? The ones with really good and relevant information for the small guy who wants to start his own company?

Sites - I make a point to read SuN every day. What else is out there? From time to time I check Entrepreneur.com, but I`ve noticed most of the information available on the site does not interest me. I also read businessownersideacafe.com, which used to be a nice resource for me before I came across SuN.

Organization - I usually write down some things on a notebook or on a personal blog, which is not even supposed to be listed anywhere (some sort of my personal online diary). I thought about using MS Project. Any other ideas on how I can keep track of my ideas and the actions I must take to turn my business idea into a reality?

I hope my question is clear...sometimes it is hard to express exactly what one needs.

Thank you all,


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

Ola Andy, Tudo Bem?  One thing that I do is keep a spreadsheet of all the things that I hear about or read about that I find interesting or helpful.  I have a tab for marketing, finance, education, distribution ideas, websites, suppliers, success plan, graphics, etc.  This way I capture it and often will come back to it later.  My two bits.

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Travis Tschepen
Hibachi Bros. LLC

--My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--

MNGrillGuy,

Tudo otimo. Are you brazilian by any chance?
That`s a good idea...my only problem is that sometimes I think of something when I am at work, and my spreadsheet is at home. That`s why I thought about the personal/secret blog. The problem with my "secret" blog is that someone may find it, and secret it will be no more! In this case I can`t really make notes and add names and specific ideas...it must be more private than something posted on the net.
I will consider your idea.

Thank you,


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

I`m not Brazilian but I have been there many times.  In fact I just got back on Sat. from a 5 day trip.  I work closely with Embraer Aircraft out of Sao Jose Dos Campos.  I only know a little portuguese however.  I`ve always enjoyed the trip, minus the 10 hr flight to Sao Paulo.  That really sucks.

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Travis Tschepen
Hibachi Bros. LLC

--My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--

I am originally from Rio, but considering there are no direct flights from NYC to RIO, I have to go through Sao Paulo...I can relate to that! 10 hours plus 2 hours waiting for the connecting flight? Yikes!

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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

My approach is twofold. The first is that as I got past about the 10 year point in working with technology, I got burnt out on it, much like so many others in an ever-changing world. I used to salivate when I saw shrink wrap, new software, shareware, how-to books, and couldn`t wait to get home to read them cover to cover. I`d install software and spend hours learning every single feature. Then I got burnt out, and now I don`t waste so much time "exploring." I learned a lot, and it stands me in good stead.

The second is far more complex, and involves my taking the time to really examine the word "focus." Along the way, I ended up with chronic fatigue, researched it, and found I have a routine and massive overload of cortisol in my system. It came from long ago, but I started using a cortisol-uptake supplement, and that dramatically restructured my ability to focus!

As I slowed down just a bit, not being "driven" by hormones to constantly look at new things, always letting projects fall by the wayside as new ones took over my mind, I let go of "how" things should happen.

I started paying a lot more attention to what is it I want in life. Do I want to learn this new database, learn a graphics art program, learn CSS, open a retail business, write a novel, build a Web site, go fishing, clean the apartment, buy a new car, replace my stereo, learn my new synthesizer, record multi-track MP3`s, or learn about MP4 files?

ALL of these are interesting, all capable of grabbing my attention, and they`re all a Distraction!

To focus, you have to have a real and meaningful Life Mission. (I`m taking that title only because it`s a forum post somewhere on here.) That`s the fundamental reason you believe you`re alive, why you`re here on Earth, and what you`d most like to spend your life doing. If you don`t believe it, then it`s not a mission.

From there, I examine everything I think of doing from the perspective of whether it`s a distraction from, or in aid of that mission. A life mission can be a paragraph, but shouldn`t be much more than that. It likely won`t do well as a 1-line statement, but if it`s very well organized, it can be that single sentence.

Andre,

First ... know that you are not alone. Many, many budding entrprenuers are out there just like you ... going through the same frustrations. I did it. Never seemed to have enough time to get everything done or the researach needed or the people to talk to ... and this was WAY before the Internet.

First ... read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Keep these books with you at all times. Read them over and over and over and over again. Wear them out.

Second ... if you are not subscribed to a blog feed reader, do it. As you find blogs that are relevant to your Chief Definite Aim (TAGR), assign them to you reader. Utilize "push technology" all the time. Have information YOU want sent to you (saves time and time is money. A penny saved, is a penny earned ... Ben Franklin)

Third ... Sites - Man, if I listed the sites I follow, I would be here all night. Once again, subscribe to the ones you like and have the info "pushed" to you. Saves much time. Samples: Public Relations: Publicity Hound. Marketing: MarketingProfs. Google News Alerts: set up alerts on topics you are interested in following ... this provides excellent intel research .... saves time. Copywriting: many execellent sites out there. Sales strategies: many sites to follow. Dude ... this is another full post .... sorry.

Fourth ... Organization ... this may sound old-fashioned and outdated ... get you some hard-bound, nice journals and start making hand-written notes (I know, this is so 1980s - but it works ... plus, when you write it down, you see it ... it is entered into your own Personal Computer ... Your brain ... and you THINK). I have an Idea Journal. A Humor Journal. A Goal Journal. A personal contact journal. I history journal (daily accounts).  Do I write in each every day? No. You will be amazed at how much you will remember and sort out when you write this stuff down in these journals.

Andre ... I share this with you and if it helps you, I have done good.

I wish you much success ... keep us posted.

R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

I personally find that my lack of focus comes from lack of motivation which comes from my ignorance of a subject. Whenever I say, "I can`t seem to get ____ done" I try and stop myself and really list out what I need to do.

I break all of my tasks down into subtasks I can do in 10 minutes or less. Once I have that list I work off of it, doing as much per day as I can. I set minimum goals for myself and I keep track of my maximum goal so I can try and challenge myself to beat it. You have to be able to hold yourself accountable, that is hard for some people.

For keeping up to date in the business and security world I read approximately 200 blogs, news sites per day. Many people think I`m completely nuts to keep up with all of that. It is really quite easy. GOOGLE READER is all I have to say. www.google.com/reader is an rss aggregator that has great keyboard shortcuts to allow you to blast through the daily grind sites, read them, tag them (so you can find them again later based on category) and move on with your life.

Eh that is all that will come out of my brain at this time.

Good luck and if you need motivation just post to SuN, there is always somebody around with some good thoughts and motivating advice. It has really helped me so far.

Y`know, I`ve recently seen the benefit of having an actualy, physical room in the home to work. Just by going through an actual door you can usually gain a significant boost to your focus, seriousness, and discipline. It`s not always doable, but if you can have a space that`s totally devoted only to work, that`s a good thing.

That`s a good idea, MNGrillGuy, having a spreadsheet to keep track of all ideas. And a tab for each - mine are spread all over the place.

CraigL - I agree with you on having a room just to work in - I recently fixed up a private space in my home - to do just that - work in. Nobody is allowed in my work space.

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Zai