Sometimes, it’s crucial to recognize when enough is enough. Surprisingly, the next step or addition can bring you down from the peak and actually reverse your results. Therefore, it becomes imperative to have a mechanism in place to determine when that is happening. At ActionCOACH Guyana, we refer to it as “test and measure,” however feel free to call it whatever resonates with you.
Now, you might wonder what exactly needs to be tested. Well, the answer is simple: everything. Each and every piece of what you’re doing should undergo scrutiny. Why? It’s because true greatness stems from focus. However, I’ve recently come to realize that many people fail to dig deep and understand what their true focus is or was before it changed.
Take Walmart, for example. Their foundation wasn’t built on cheap products. That’s just what they sell. Their real focus was on logistics and finding the most cost-effective way to deliver goods to people. Pricing became a follow-on feature. If you study their business history, you’d discover that almost every venture they pursued outside their logistics focus ended up failing. Every single one.
On the other hand, Amazon constructed the largest “single purpose” logistics network in the United States. Their unwavering focus lies in information. Over time, they have layered various businesses on top of their deep understanding of customers like you and me. But let’s not mistake them for a mere product company.
Meanwhile, Virgin was built upon Richard Branson’s singular dedication to building exceptional teams to run his businesses. While all of these companies have achieved immense success, their current endeavors are not exactly what they started with. What truly propelled them to greatness was their relentless focus and the willingness to trim away anything that didn’t align with that vision.
So, remember, in your pursuit of success, constantly test and measure every aspect of your strategy. Stay true to your core focus and be willing to adapt and evolve while maintaining a clear vision.