I can’t tell you how many conversations start out with a business owner telling me they feel so stressed and overwhelmed they just aren’t sure where to turn or what to do next.  There’s a one word solution…

FOCUS

9 times out of 10 these feelings are the result of a LACK of focus.  It isn’t intentional on your part.  You have so many responsibilities and obligations it’s far easier to lose focus than it is to maintain focus.  To regain your focus remember to…

Follow through.  Whatever you start you must follow through and finish.  Whatever obligations you make or responsibilities you take you must follow through.  So be careful what you take on.

One action at a time.  Whatever you choose to work on, work on that one thing and only that one thing at a time.  That means no answering the phone, checking email, or stopping to chat while you’re working until that one action is accomplished.

Concentrate on the actions that produce results.  There are tons of things you could do, should do, might be fun to do.  But when you’re deciding what to do next always take the action that moves you closer to a paycheck first.

Use your resources to produce the biggest payoff.  Everything you do requires a resource whether that resource be time, money, or manpower.  Evaluate your resources and use those resources to produce the greatest result.  Leverage your actions so one action produces a result in many ways.

Stop doing the things some one else should be doing.  You should be doing the things someone is paying you to do.  That means you should be doing the things that produce a result that produces revenue.  Eliminate or offload all the things that don’t produce a result for you.

photo credit: Kathryn,

Once you remove the things that don’t deserve your focus and focus on the things that do you’ll find it’s a whole lot easier to get the important things done.  As you get those things done your stress goes down… and those feelings of being overwhelmed simply go away.