Still busy, still broke? This might be why.
Hey,
Ever found yourself super busy, working your tail off, but still feeling like you're not getting anywhere?
Yeah, me too.
For a long time, I was caught in that trap – doing a million things at once, thinking that was the secret to success.
But guess what?
It’s not.
In fact, it's the fastest way to stay busy but broke.
Think about it like this: You can’t burn paper with a magnifying glass if you keep wiggling it around.
You need to hold it still, focus that sunlight on one tiny point, and then you get results.
Your business is the same.
Spreading yourself thin prevents any single effort from gaining the momentum it needs to actually, you know, succeed.
So, what's holding us back? Usually, it's a few things:
Multitasking Madness: We think being busy means being productive. But being "busy but broke" usually means we're working on too many things at once. It dilutes your energy, and nothing really takes off.
The "Multiple Priorities" Myth: We've been taught to have lists of priorities. But historically, "priority" meant one first thing. When you have multiple "priorities," you don’t have any. Your effort gets spread out, and nothing gets done effectively. Does that resonate with you?
The Cost of Constant Change: Every time you switch focus, tweak a process, or jump to a new idea, your business takes a hit. We’re talking at least a 20% dip in performance, before you even see any potential gain! Momentum is lost, resources are wasted on low-impact adjustments, and it just stalls growth.
Focusing on Strengths, Ignoring Weaknesses (the bottleneck!): Sometimes we just do what we enjoy or what we're good at, even if it's not the real problem. True growth comes from tackling the real constraint – often an area of weakness – not endlessly perfecting what's already strong.
Sound familiar?
I know it does for me.
But here’s the good news: the path to untangle this mess is actually pretty simple.
Here’s how to shift from scattered busyness to focused progress:
Identify Your One Priority: If you could only accomplish one thing in the next year that would move your business the furthest, what would it be? Be super specific. This is your magnifying glass. All your effort goes here.
Eliminate the Noise: This is tough, but crucial. You've gotta cut out or postpone everything else that doesn’t align with that one priority. Commitment means saying no to alternatives, even good ones. If you don't, your resources will be spread too thin, and you'll be back to square one.
Accept "Good Enough": You don't need to chase perfection in every single part of your business. If something (like your conversion rates, for example) is already decent, or at industry standard, leave it alone! Redirect that energy to what's truly holding you back.
Limit Major Changes: Resist the urge to constantly tinker. Unless the upside is huge (like, at least a 20% gain to justify that initial 20% dip), stick with what's working. Build momentum. Be patient.
Be Patient and Deliberate: You probably have a million ideas, right? Write them all down – just to clear your mind. But only act on one at a time. Think of your big decisions like a punch card with limited uses. Choose carefully, execute fully, and don't chase every shiny new opportunity. Imagine that!
By applying these insights and steps, you can finally channel your effort into the opportunities that truly matter, and turn your business from a constant juggle into a thriving success.
Stay focused,
Brandon Rhee
