In business – whether online or offline – you will not succeed by chasing every shiny new bauble.  You have to have a focus, you have to have a plan, you have to have a map.  And just as important – you have to work for it.

Solomon – the wisest ever of all men – said it this way:

He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.  Proverbs 12:11

You cannot expect a plan to work just because you formulated it in your mind.  You need to write it down, review it, and edit it as the need arises.

I have a book that I carry around with me in order to write down all the great ideas I have.  At least I think they are great ideas.  Admittedly – yes I do sometimes get distracted by them – but that is changing.  The book is so I can write them down and come back to them at a later time when I have a few minutes to process them and decide “Is this something that fits within my current plan?”

Some people call it a swipe file.  I just call it a book that has my ideas in it :)  Anyway – it is there as a catcher’s mitt so I don’t get all distracted and lose focus on my business at hand. 

This is a constant struggle with me and I know it.  I am not throwing money at all these ideas that come my way or products that come through my email etc.  But I can easily go on a researching sidetrack for an hour or two just looking into an idea or how to better it.  Do you do that too?

Here is my solution.  Kind of like Othello – it takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.  Keep the book or the ‘swipe file’,  write your ideas, if you see a product or business model that strikes you – write it down too.  Then plan 1-2 hours at the end of one of your days or even at the most productive time of you day to spend on your latest swipe file ideas.

Then spend only that time.  Use a timer.  If your timer goes off – then stop or make a decision to only allot a short time to finish whatever amazing track you were on, then stop.  But you have to be willing to say to yourself “I have work to get done and it is a part of my schedule.  I cannot ignore it or put it aside.  It deserves even more of my attention than these ideas today.” 

Proverbs 13:4 goes on to say:

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The desires of the diligent.  Are you diligent?  Can you plan ahead – even just one day – and stick to your plan?  Work every day as if your next meal depended on it.  As if you child’s next meal depended on it.  Like it or not – they do.

Or better yet work knowing that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as a reward…

Colossians 3

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

God Bless all and Give with Passion

Chris