Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

A lot of people believe, somehow, that mental discipline is automatic. It comes with the brain. :-) Unfortunately, it doesn`t, and it`s a skill pretty much like anything else.

Being a writer, I`ve heard pretty much all the stories, tricks, and systems people use to stay focused. "Pick a time and write between those hours. Get in the habit." Sure, sounds great on paper, but then all kinds of things interfere, get in the way, look interesting, sound like a better idea, and so forth.

One key issue is that when our mind wanders, it`s usually because we really don`t want to do whatever it is we`re trying to do. Not everyone really really loves writing up a business plan! LOL! In fact, most people probably really really hate the idea! But it`s gotta be done anyway.

So how do we make ourselves do something we don`t want to do?

One way is to bully ourselves into it. That`s a fancy way of voting "against" something. It`s using pain, threats, torture, and doom as an incentive. Not very good, I think.

The better way is to develop a positive reinfocement system---an incentive program. An important part of this is to also reduce the "large" to the "small." See how small you can break down the process.

For example, instead of saying, "I need to write my business plan today," why not say something like, "I need to come up with 5 topic headings I`d like to use in my business plan someday."

You might also say to yourself that if you can get these 2 pages written, then it`s okay to go out shopping for that thing you really want.

The problem, though, is still the underlying issue of not liking what it is you`re trying to do. Another part of that is not being able to easily see the real and immediate benefit to yourself.

I don`t mind doing dishes, but I really dislike dusting. It`s because when I wash dishes, I see them getting clean right there in front of my very eyes! But when I dust....so what? I can`t see much of a difference unless I put on my glasses. So I leave things until they get so dusty it`s immediately evident I cleaned them. I also sneeze a lot. :-)

What would be an immediate benefit to having a business plan? I don`t mean that you would breathe a sigh of relief and say, "Well THAT`s done!" I mean in the real world, with actual events?

Yet another option is to "trick yourself into working," using a sort of diversionary tactic. For example, I have a book I want to write, but I get all caught up in lots of other things. So instead of writing a book, I`m "jotting down some notes." That`s easy...not hard..and there`s no particular time limit. I`m just writing a couple of things, after all.

But lo and behold, without actually paying attention to it, I have just about a whole book. And I like editing a whole lot more than coming up with original content. So now I just have to edit my notes. Not so hard. :-)

yep some days are just a wash, you get nothing accomplished, so feel good on the days when you do. It`s not easy getting your name out, theres a lot of leg work, especially at first. ONce you do a few jobs and people start to talk, thats when it starts to pay off. Each client in our salon is a promoter in a way, they walk out with our hair cut, etc and tell others how happy they are. Guess what, those people call us and make an appointment, and we didnt have to spend marketing dollars on them.

My point here is that you should always look for the most efficient way to promote your business, and by that I mean time and cost for YOU. We`ve found that sometimes free stuff isnt the best route, because it may waste too much of our time. I suggest spending the time to close those first few sales, and make those people extremely happy so they talk.

Both Craig and tikki50 have given you some great advise. Another intervention you might want to consider is employing a Business Coach. A coach can help you get focused and also make you accountable, both of which seems to be a big problems you are experiencing.  

drbob

 

Thanks a lot for your valuable feedbacks. It`s been quite a while I have been facing problems while concentrating on my business. I need to get back in the groove..soon .

I think it really comes down to how bad you want it. If you`re not serious, then every distraction and stray thought will divert you from doing those necessary, but boring, tasks that are required of all successful entrepreneurs.

It`s critical that you put your goals on paper, and after committing to them, come up with a daily plan of action. Put that on paper too, all the daily activities that you need to do to make your business work. At the end of the day, review your list and see what you accomplished. Do it again the next day.

It sounds like you could benefit from finding a success oriented person to act as your "activity conscience", someone who checks in on you once a week or so and gives you a hard time if you didn`t do what you promised you would do earlier in the week to grow your biz.

As far as these steps sounding "school-y", get over it. At the risk of sounding cold, in the real world no one really cares if your business is a success or not. It`s totally up to you, and you have to care enough to get it going and keep it going.
Sorry, but that`s just the way it is. Get focused and take action!

(and I do hope you succeed!)


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