Kill 80% of ‘em

A tad bit startling, but did you know that one of the fastest ways to grow your business is to apply the sword to most of it? Many people spend the majority of their days being busy instead of being effective. In the 1600’s a famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi wrote in The Book of Five Rings, “When one is in a sword fight one must focus on only one thing: killing.” I know there are a lot of references to violence, yet I am a business coach, but I promise this quote does apply to your business. It started when I got an email from my old sensei (martial arts teacher) and it brought back many memories from the dojo. If you are curious go to www.freedmansmethod.com and check it out.

One of the reasons Musashi wrote that statement was that many sword schools started to pop up emphasizing many fancy techniques or moves. All this fanciness was taking away from the true purpose of learning how to use a sword. Back in the day a sword was only meant for one thing, you guessed it- killing. If you forget the true purpose of what you are doing it quite literally could get you killed.

Back to business… what is truly important in your business? What is the one thing that you can never forget each day? What is that thing that your business is really about? What is the purpose of your business day? What are you doing that should be put to the sword? Do you have so many projects going on that you are forgetting what your business is really about? Are you a salesperson who is being an administrator? Are you a leader who is focusing more on minutia then your people? If this resonates with you, then its time to figure out what needs to be put to the sword.

I have my clients focus on cutting almost everything away except their champions because that is where the 80% of their business originates.

Cut through the distractions to focus on what the purpose of your business is. If you don’t, it may be you who is put to the sword by your competition.

Make Today Count

I am going through old pictures of my Grandparents in a shoe box in the bottom of my Uncle’s closet. A small faded black and white picture 2 by 3 inches catches my eye and shifts my thinking. The picture shows my Grandmother and Grandfather in a sunlight drenched backyard looking at the camera as my Grandmother pours herself a beer from a keg and my Grandfather is looking at her slyly. They are probably in their late 20’s or early 30’s. They look happy, vibrant and full of life, ready to conquer the world. It is an amazing picture of possibility.

The picture is of two people I would not know for another 30 years. When I came into their world they were in the winter of their lives. This snapshot made me realize an obvious thing that sometimes is not so obvious. Time is passing. In this picture my Grandparents were younger than I am today. Time is passing. Too many times I look at my day as something to check off my list. I have appointments, people to see, projects to work on. It is stuff I want to get done. Too many times I forget that each day that passes is one never recovered.

I implore you MAKE TODAY COUNT.

Go and get a picture of your grandparents when they were young and put it in a place that you will see it to remind yourself that time is passing and to Make Today Count.

Ideas on MAKING TODAY COUNT:

Send your spouse a love letter.

Call that prospect you have been avoiding.

Tell your staff how much you appreciate them.

Ask your boss about what you do well.

Tell your kids how proud you are of them and give a real life example.

Book that trip.

Start a journal

Hire Getting Results

Call an old Friend

Take your dog to their favorite place

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Ken Doyle