How many rabbits are you chasing?
Have you ever tried to catch a rabbit?
I used to spend the school holidays at my grandparents in Somerset and would often spot a little greyish-brown rabbit, twitching away in the grass.
So small. Easy to catch, surely?
I’d get so far, then his long ears would detect me, and his powerful hind legs would kick into action. Once, I managed a few deft moves, and my fingertips touched his soft fur. But I never caught one.
Imagine trying to catch two rabbits at once? Impossible!
What do you do when the two rabbits separate and go different directions?
If you’re following one in preference to the other, you’ll simply be ignoring the other.
If you’re still trying to catch both at the same time, the tendency is to try to follow both, and split the difference between their paths. Now you’re running straight when one went left, the other right.
Chasing both rabbits simply means you lose both.
And the same is true in your business.
Chances are you’re feeling overwhelmed with too many jobs to do. You may not be accomplishing any of them. You might be attempting the impossible of chasing three rabbits at the same time.
Exhausting, isn’t it.
This is why focus on your structure and team is SO important because you need the right people who are able to respond – i.e. be responsible – and be accountable (remember my blog last week about the ability to do both).
If you don’t have this, then you’re never going to let go and delegate.
Some of your team may become bored and disengaged.
You’ll be in danger of stagnating and merely existing because you won’t have the time or focus to work ON your business.
You’ll burn out.
Think about this, this week. It’s vital you take the pressure off yourself and this is one of the most effective and productive ways to do so.