Stay in Your Lane: Focus Enables Success

Focus is the most important element required for entrepreneurial organizations to achieve their desired future state. If this seems simple, its because it is - don't complicate something that is so pragmatic...just stay focused and you will be successful. However, this can still be difficult because focus applies to several areas of the business and each are important. Therefore, the key is to prioritize and be intentional about what you are focusing on and when. 

Starting with an emphasis on initial products and services offered, entrepreneurs must avoid early distractions and concentrate on providing value through their primary proficiencies before trying to expand on concepts. In other words, stick with what you are passionate about and what you are good at in order to perfect your core focus if you want to build a successful company. 

Once centered on providing value through initial offerings, entrepreneurs can develop a vision for delivering value and expanding capacity in order to scale the business. Vision provides a strategic roadmap which allows informed focus across all business drivers both in the short and long term. Culture is part of the vision too because identifying core values empowers strategic focus and establishes a deliberate culture - making it possible to attract, acquire, and retain the talent needed to scale...once structure and processes are defined.

Focusing on structure, processes, and systems next will allow the business to execute on the vision through effective communication, efficiency, and continuous improvement. Structure creates accountability, processes provide scalability, and systems enable continuity across all functions. With a focused vision and structure, an entrepreneurial organization should then turn its attention toward people - including employees, partners, and customers. 

Building a team that is aligned with the culture, vision, and structure will facilitate the business's ability to stay focused and achieve results. Additionally, all of this focus will ensure that the firm can establish productive and cooperative partnerships. Without focus on products and vision, and without proper structure and processes, companies cannot identify, engage, or acquire customers. 

Finally, with all of these factors in place, the focus can be turned to objectives and data. Without measuring and reporting on prioritized initiatives and the right metrics, the business will be unable to learn, adjust, and grow. A balanced scorecard provides focus across the organization and keeps everyone moving in the same direction while growing the business. 

Ultimately, staying focused on what you do best, how you provide value, and what makes you successful is the most important way for a small business to establish initial success and then grow the business. Eventually, part of the vision may include diversification (which still requires focus), but entrepreneurs who want to gain market share and grow their business must learn to be disciplined and stay in their lane.