Don’t keep adding stuff to your to do list.  If anything, start crossing stuff off that doesn’t need to be done.

If it won’t have an impact on sales going up, profits going up, or costs going down – stop doing it.

Instead, each morning or the night before, write down the TOP 5 things you need to get done that day.

Then start working on number one until it’s done.

Then move on to number two.  If you can be diligent and stay focused using this age-old method, you and your team will grow during any upswing or downturn in the economy.

And about the good ol’ 80/20 rule: We all know and accept that eighty percent of the results come from twenty percent of the work.

I like to use that as a way to focus myself. For example, if you only had two hours a day to get work done, what would you want to get done right away? Do you know what that activity might be? OK, do that, and that alone.

Imagine if for eight hours a day you just worked on those crucial tasks versus focusing on the numerous other items that seem to spring from out of nowhere each day.

pic goddess spiral

As a business coach, I believe the number one thing that every company can do in 2010 to be successful is focus.  Pure and simple focus.

Too many employees and companies are off plan, stuck in email, wasting time in poorly planned meetings, and chasing after big shiny objects instead of getting hyper focused.

It’s about getting the critical few things done, not the important many.  It’s not rocket science. Focused effort will beat everything else, hands down, every time.  Prove me wrong

I coach & mentor CEOs in 5 countries.  And last year I was the top rated lecturer at MIT’s Entrepreneurial Masters Program.  I’m certainly not the smartest guy out there but I can get more done than almost anyone due to one thing.  Focus.  And when I’m not focused I’m pretty useless just like everyone else.