Eyes on the ball

I have been a startup coach for one year now applying The 7 points. I went through them with my clients and it helped them clarify their positioning, their why, their list of things to be done to succeed. This helped them learn how to tell their story in order to attract support and resources.

Still, what I find to be the most critical point is the focus on keeping the business going. 

This is - by far - the most critical reason why a business survives. 

When the entrepreneur gets sidetracked by too much focus on telling the story of the business instead of running it, this is when he/she risks losing it all.

It is like when playing basketball you look obsessively at the basket instead of following the ball and mastering the throws, each time better and better - either from close or from far.

'Focus on the ball' is by far the best thing an entrepreneur needs to do… 

Unlike in basketball, in business, the ball tends to be more difficult to figure out. 

- What is the ball for your business…?

It is a simple question, but not all entrepreneurs  stay focused on the essential answer.
 

In my view - the answer is: obsession on serving the customer. 

The answer lies in knowing what the business actually does to help the life of the customer for the better.

It sounds easy, but it is so difficult, as in the life of a startup, lots of entrepreneurs get sidetracked by other ideas, by the noise in the industry or by thoughts such as: 

What are other competitors doing?

What is the latest workshop that the competition goes to?, or 

What conferences are around? 

All these false routes get the entrepreneur lose precious energy, time and passion.  

The difference between winners & losers in the world of startups is that the ones that survive are the ones that keep the eye on the BALL! The ones that live, breathe for ‘the BALL’ are the ones that find the new solution, the new angle to solve the problem of the customer. They are the ones that find the faster, simpler, the intuitive way to serve the customer. They are the ones that do not lose the energy on useless features. 

Now, for you, the entrepreneur - to keep you with the eyes on the BALL, it really helps if you wake up every day with the thought: 

- ‘How can I serve my customers better today?’

It does not take money. It is about the perspective, about the obsession to only encourage this thought!

Everyday, start with your talk with the customers, walk with the customers, observe your customers. Understand them better than they actually understand themselves…

It is like with the ball in basketball. The best players, love the touch of the ball.

So, what ritual will you start today to serve your customers?

Next: 3.The Problem