Multiple priorities will cost you money & time

I always took pride in my ability to juggle. I was that guy who thought he could keep a dozen or so 'priorities' in the air without dropping a single one. But the truth is, it was costing me… Big time.

It was draining my time, energy, and even my money. And I know I'm not the only one. Many of us, particularly those in leadership roles, are guilty of this.

I used to help launch businesses after natural disasters. The money was great, but it wasn’t scalable and the work was far from fun — I wasn’t building anything. And even more recently, I attempted to launch a new business idea every 90 days... First an e-commerce business and then a local moving business, all within 6 months. Both generated revenue, but only the latter achieved profitability (ever so slightly) in its very last month before shutting it down. I had taken on way too much and was speeding toward total failure.

Reflecting back on those whirlwind days of launching businesses left and right, the consequences are clear. The scattergun approach, the divide and conquer method, didn’t work and the price I paid was high. I lost tens of thousands of dollars launching and advertising these businesses. But more importantly, the potential earnings that I missed out on from having a single focus was even greater.

The compounding effect of having a single priority is unbeatable, and this is what I’ve begun experiencing with my consulting business.

As I look at the successes of others, I now see that the common denominator is focus. Unwavering, undiluted focus. The kind of deep productivity that leads to growth is born from this singular focus.

Take this nugget of wisdom and apply it to your life and business. Initially, it may seem risky, boring, or even counterintuitive to put all of your eggs in one basket. But give it time, and the results will speak for themselves, just as they have for me.

You can start by identifying your mission and primary goal. Remember, multiple priorities will not only slow you down, they can potentially destroy your business. Your priority needs to be crystal clear and communicated across your team. This will also help guide all of your decision-making.

Next, clarify the most important 3-5 projects over the next month. Keyword: important. What will move the needle? What will actually help push your mission forward? Write them down, then order them in terms of their priority.

Now, here’s the hardest part… Every week, you and every team member need to identify 3-5 goals and dedicate themselves to just ONE per day. This is the secret sauce of productivity and the true path to leadership and growth.

It’s very clear that when we split our attention, we end up diluting our efforts. The fewer things we focus on, the more we get done. You'll save time, money, and a whole lot of stress.

See you all next Thursday 👋

PS. Whenever you're ready... Here are three ways I can help you systemize & automate operations: