Decide What it is that You Want to do

If you’re like me, you probably have a million ideas about the direction you want to take your business.  The biggest challenge?  Choosing a path and getting the show on the road.

In the past couple of years I’ve started writing several ebooks, taken on client work for a wide variety of different entrepreneurs, explored several different partnership opportunities and countless other endeavors that attained some degree of completion.  The problem is that spreading yourself that thin can turn into a jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-none type of trap.  I’ve learned through experience that you are better off picking a direction and going with it, making corrections along the way.  You can always abandon ship if that turns out to be the best course of action; but focusing your efforts on one particular area instead of trying to be all things to all people is a much better use of your energy.

So how do you know which direction to take?

The reality is that it’s impossible to know for sure.  Some things will work better for some than others.  The trick is to find something that will hold your attention long enough to give it a chance to succeed.  Here are a few tips to help you decide what it is that you want to do:

Ask yourself this: what is your ultimate goal?  If you’re like me, your goal is probably similar to mine in that helping people is your primary focus.  I help people succeed on the Internet with their business aspirations.  I provide guidance to make sure that my clients have the best chance possible to make things happen to achieve the things they want to accomplish.  Figuring out the best way that you can help people is always a great base for a business.

So what can you help people with?  That’s easy to figure out.  Just think of all the things you’re passionate about.  I guarantee there is something you know that someone else could benefit from.  Think about your interests, your hobbies, etc.  Think about past jobs you’ve held and the things you learned while you worked there.  Your pool of knowledge is only limited by your imagination.

If your ultimate goal is to make as much money as possible, that’s great too!  Financial rewards are what drive capitalism!  That said, maximizing your monetary ambitions with your passions might not be as feasible as we would like.  It may be difficult to make $250k a year by cashing in on a hobby like doll making – not that it can’t be done.  But if making as much money as possible is your goal, than you may need to focus on something that is more financially rewarding, e-commerce or affiliate marketing.

The common thread with all of this is to play to your strengths.  Spreading yourself too thin and trying to be all things to all people – while often admirable – can be a problem in the long run when your responsibilities expand at a faster rate than your resources allow for.  Stick with what you’re good at, pick a direction and run with it.