3 Tips for Focus in the New Year

All year I kept hearing a theme of, “narrow your niche”. I jumped on this bandwagon rather quickly but was really unsure what it actually meant. I tried focusing on my ideal customer, my product types, even my industry within an industry. Yet all these left me less focused and rather lost. If narrowing your focus is so important how come I can’t seem to make it click? Then I had a minor breakthrough.

It’s not about narrowing your product, or your industry type. It doesn’t even have anything to do with my ideal customer--focus is about your message. And when you find the root of your business you’ve discovered your message. This message is magical! You can funnel everything through it like what product to build, what customer to go after, even the type of marketing you want to do. In honor of us coming up on a brand new year here are 3 tips for your focus. I discovered that focus feels really good because, well, I can actually think clearly!

Tip #1: Find where all that passion stems from. You are already rooted in something--think back on an inspiration moment, when a brilliant idea popped in your head, or the exchange you had with a customer that made your day. What was it about? For me, watching my client say with their facial expression, “Oh, I see it now and know how to get there.” This is what my message is about--connection and confidence.

Tip #2: Determine what you do really well and that you can over deliver on. This is something that is already a part of you. Instead of thinking customer service, think innovation for my customers. That in itself is great customer service. For me, it’s listening. I know I can always listen and hear things my clients don’t. That will never go away and so I strive to be really great at it.

Tip #3: Listen to that little voice that enjoys oversimplification. There is a little voice that always says things like, “It’s as simple as…” or, “Basically, it’s about…”. When you hear this, don’t jump to covering it up! We want to make it more complicated than it’s needs to be. We want to be “unique” sometimes to a point where we aren’t even recognizable.

Be simple because your customers have a reference for simplicity. For example, my simplest way when asked what I do is to say, “I am a dream business maker.” Because at the end of the day that’s basically what I do and we all know what having our dreams come true feels like.

Less is more, be simple, and still pack a punch. Find focus you can think clearly about and have a wonderful New Year!

Andrea Mansfield is the owner of Brand & Bloom where she guides creative women using clarity about their purpose and passion for a successful business.

Main image courtesy of toolstop