Are you dreading planning for next year, thinking it means diving into another cycle of adding more?
What if I told you the secret to a wildly successful next year isn’t about adding more but about focus.
In this episode, we look at strategic focus and how it can revolutionise your business, including:
- What focus really means and why it’s essential to business
- How to achieve focus
- Why focus and planning go hand in hand
It’s not about more
For years, the entrepreneur’s mantra has been more, more, more.
More clients
More products
More marketing channels
More revenue streams
And while growth is essential, this relentless pursuit of more often leads to burnout and ironically, less impact.
Think about it:
- How many times have you launched a new initiative, only to see it fizzle out because your attention was spread too thin?
- How many fantastic ideas are left gathering dust while you chase the next shiny object?
The truth is more doesn’t automatically mean better. Often, it’s just noise.
As we look toward the next chapter, it’s time to challenge that assumption.
You don’t need more. You need focus.
So what does focus mean in business?
It means intentionally deciding what not to do so you can excel at what you do best.
Let’s break this down with four key focus areas:
1. Identify your core value proposition
What’s the single most impactful problem your business solves? What makes you truly unique? Double down on that.
2. Audit your offerings
Look at everything you currently offer.
- Which products or services are profitable and aligned with your core values?
- Which ones are draining time, energy, and resources with little return?
Be brave enough to prune. That’s not failure, it’s strategy.
3. Streamline your processes
- What are you doing manually that could be automated?
- Where are the bottlenecks or unnecessary steps?
Simplifying your internal processes frees up both time and mental space for what truly matters.
4. Plan with focus in mind
Here’s how to integrate focus into your next planning cycle:
Step 1: Create a Stop Doing List
Before adding anything new, identify what’s no longer delivering the results you need.
Be ruthless: What tasks, projects, even client relationships no longer serve your core purpose?
This step alone is often the most liberating.
Step 2: Define ONE big goal
Not five. Not 10.
Just one, the single most important, needle-moving goal that aligns with your core focus.
Everything else should either support it or be eliminated.
Step 3: Map your resources to that goal
Once you know your priority, allocate your time, money, and team energy to achieving it.
If something doesn’t directly contribute? Question its place. Say no to good ideas so you can say yes to great ones.
Step 4: Schedule deep work blocks
Protect your most valuable asset, your time.
Set aside uninterrupted blocks for high-impact work that drives your one big goal forward.
That’s where real momentum comes from.
The beauty of focus
Here’s the beauty of focus: When you focus you become known for something specific. This builds authority and attracts your ideal clients.
When you focus, your team gains clarity. Everyone knows what matters most, boosting productivity and confidence.
When you focus, you reduce overwhelm and burnout. Less noise. More progress. Greater peace of mind.
And when you focus, you create sustainable growth. Growth with depth, not just breadth.
Your next planning period
So as you begin planning your next period, resist the urge to add more.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Where can I bring more focus?
- What can I simplify?
- What can I say no to, so I can say yes to what really matters?
Take out a pen and paper right now and start your Stop Doing List.
It’s the single most powerful step you can take to begin your best year yet.
If you found this helpful, maybe check out my Business Wisdom Vault, filled with strategic business insights, tools and templates, ready to help you plan with purpose.
Here’s to a focused, impactful, and truly successful next period in business.
Highlights (timestamps)
0:00 The Secret to a Successful Year
00:45 The Problem with ‘More’
01:34 The Power of Focus
02:38 Practical Steps to Implement Focus
04:16 The Benefits of Focus
04:46 Where to from here?
