January 11, 2022

Steve Jobs on Focus

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” (Steve Jobs)

Focus is less about what you choose to do than what you choose not to do. It’s about what you decide to outsource. It’s what you decide to create a system or process for so that it’s done for you automatically. It's about what marginal prospects you allow to occupy your marketing and sales resources.

As Jobs said, focus is more about saying "no" than "yes."

Rodin, arguably the greatest sculptor ever, reported said: "I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don’t need."

Do your goals for 2022 include a “things I need to quit doing” list? What if you operated with a “will not do” list instead of a “to do” list? What would the results be?

You’d have more time to focus on what every professional services provider needs to do: creating value for clients.

 

 

Image created using Craiyon (Formerly DALL-E Mini)

(This blog post was also posted on LinkedIn.)

©Ray Business Advisors, LLC and John Ray

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About me: I help solo or small professional services firm owners with the confidence and positioning necessary to improve their pricing and change the trajectory of not only their business but their life.

I have a podcast called The Price and Value Journey, which features interviews with industry leaders and audio versions of my blog posts. You can find the podcast on your favorite podcast app.

I also have a book coming out in 2023:  The Price and Value Journey: Raise Your Confidence, Your Value, and Your Prices to Grow Your Business Using The Generosity Mindset.

For more information, go to PriceValueJourney.com