[Goals] The 2nd Unknown Law of Empire Building – Series of 4

Want to leave your legacy? Forge your footprint? Create your calling? Good. Those are all big things. You can get there IF you heed the 4 Unknown Laws of Empire Building that will protect you from starting strong and fizzling.

Last week we talked about the WHEN of your focus –  you have to stay in the present moment – The 4 Unknown Laws of Empire Building #1. Now, let’s talk about the WHAT of that focus.

You Can Do Many Things, But Start With ONE

Trying to be all things to all people means you are nothing to everyone. Do not convince yourself that you need to focus on the entire pet world as your market, instead of just lap dogs under 25 pounds that live in high-rise condos. Yes, I just made that up but the last time I checked the pet market is over $4 billion. You don’t need all of the pet owners in the world!

Once you have mastered a small segment –  meaning you have gone deep into a narrow segment – THEN you can go broad. You will have the trust of the entire segment you proved yourself to. They will seek out your counsel for other areas and vouch for your credibility.

Empires are built by first lining up tall narrow columns,

and then putting a broad flat roof on top.

Unknown Law #2 of Empire Building:

Focus Narrow First

Everyone has a few gurus they follow. If you notice, they were masters of a topic, a subject or leader to a particular group FIRST. They rose to power on that and THEN branched out.

Paul Dean, Rachel Ray, Kathy Ireland, Martha Stewart, Cindy Crawford. Do you really think they personally know how to make skillets, curtains or couches? NO. They rose in their own personal COLUMN to prominence andthen they can sell…apparently…anything.

I need you to get good at one thing. Really good at one thing.

If you try to get really good at 4 things, it either won’t work or it will take exponentially longer.  They say mastery comes in 10,000 hours. Stop splitting up your TIME FOCUS.

The Foundational Work of Empire is Building Strong Columns

Your work is in getting clarity on where to drive your first column. If you pick poorly, you will hit solid rock to blast through or lose interest in your work before you have enough momentum to sustain long term growth.

Know one more reason why doing what you love is important? Because you will need to keep doing the same THING over and over and over. No one talks about this.

If you don’t like dogs, running a doggie daycare will begin to feel like a prison to you, even if it’s profitable. As a founder, our job is to attract resources in the form of people, followers, contacts and contracts. The energy and passion you use to tell your story to do that in year 1 can’t fade away by year 3 or your resources will fade with it.

If you don’t have clarity on where to “dig” your column and want to make sure that you can go the distance, hit reply and ask to talk to me. I’ll help you.

Another narrow column you must build is your business infrastructure.

Do not let yourself branch out until you have solid systems, repeatable process, predictable cashflow, consistent lead generation and reliable employees who can train others.

Dinner first, dessert second. For entrepreneurs like us, dropping the singular, narrow focus for the “new” thing IS dessert! Clean your plate first Alphas!

In Joy,

P.S. THIS Perfect Square is The Alpha Life