K.I.S.S. Revisited- 4 Areas to Focus for Business Success

K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple Stupid

Self employment and small business ownership are not inconsistent, unstable, or risky.  It is our actions that are inconsistent, unstable and risky.  Manage yourself and you win.

When I started part time in my new venture 23 years ago, keeping my full time gig for awhile I had great mentors. They taught me focus and I listened.  I had success (amongst the normal struggle) and quit my J.O.B. less than 2 years later.

Although I was training and
became a mentor to others, teaching them everything I knew, it wasn't until much later that I spent the time to boil it all down to something manageable.

The following areas need to be worked in tandem.  There was more time spent on some than others, but a strict regimen with accountability had it all pay off.   I listed them in a possible order of importance, but not really.  All I know is that you have to continue to make money, or none of the rest of those makes a difference, so that's why pipeline management is listed first.  You're dead in the water if cash flow dries up.  Your finances will be jacked, you will be pulled to spend less time improving, and passive income will never happen if active income doesn't.

Pipeline Management

Numbers, numbers, numbers...you have to know the math behind your business.  It's imperative. Every day, all the time, track your numbers inside a system that becomes second-nature.  Knowing the relationship between your front end activities and the back end results will put you in control.

Finances/Taxes

How many people have went belly up winging it in this area.  Look to your own personal finances to get a clue how this will look in your business.  How you deal with your own money is how you will deal with the business's money.  If this is ugly, you need to change.  Add structures, accountability, and planning to give yourself the best odds of surviving until you are profitable.  

  

Skills/Self Improvement

You will always provide the same quality service unless you change.  Change through learning. Read, attend classes, listen to mentors, and make this a daily priority.  Your specific business skillsets must always be growing, as well as all the intangible qualities to become the leader you know is in you.

Passive Income

This is definitely not listed 4th because it less important.  Passive income is not a luxury or a "cool idea".  You can visit our post about this and look for our book launch soon.  This is the future of your family's income, possibly even for generations to come if you do it big.  But the mere fact that you need a passive income to survive through your own lifetime is enough motivation to keep this in the forefront of your business planning.  Your income has to get on auto pilot, and driving your business in that direction from the onset is not a smart thing to do...it's logic.  

Now, this is a simple list on purpose.  If you build decks on the side and want to make a steady income, quit your day job, or grow any business at a phenomenal rate, this list is for you. These are the only 4 things I concentrated on for years.

There is so much info on the web about start ups, venture capital, crowdfunding, angel investors, CRM, and terms that make most average people want to go hmmmm.  It's really just not that complicated.

There are certainly multiple moving parts in each category, but this will help you get your act together on what are the main things you should be doing.

See our post on pipeline management and tax deductions for details . Pipeline management is the biggest key to your success.  Manage yourself,  but do it all in generating and managing your business output and cash flow.

K.I.S.S.


Let us know in the comments what you focus on, or maybe even what you have chosen NOT to focus on that is working for you!