No matter what area of your life you are trying to improve – your health, your relationships, your business, your career – you need focus.
I was in Florida a few months ago at my Todd Brown Top One Mastermind.
One of my buddies, Tom Beal – a very successful digital marketer and performance coach – presented a very cool framework for focus.
Tom’s framework is called the “Quiver of Clarity.” I got massive value from it and I know you will too.
Anything you do in life will fit into one of four categories:
Whatever your goal or desired outcome, you can apply this. Health, wealth, happiness… anything.
Because I’m biased, let’s look at this framework for buying a business.
1. What do you need to start doing?
If you are at the start of your business buying journey, there are things you must do that you probably aren’t already doing…
Like creating a deal specification. In other words, what type of business do you want to buy and why?
The type of business should be related to you in some way. Your skills, experiences and passions are good places to start.
And more importantly… why do you want to buy a business?
Trust me. What you really want is not to buy or own a business…
What you really want are the benefits of owning a business – cash flow, pride, freedom, work-life balance, fulfillment, achievement, etc.
Make sure you fully document your what and your why.
2. What do you need to do more?
You may already be speaking to sellers and brokers in your pursuit of a deal. If not, you should start. Remember – this is a relationship business. Tell them who you are and what you want (your deal specification).
It is also a numbers game. You may have to look at 10, 20 or even more opportunities to find your perfect business. Keep up the activity.
Keep speaking to brokers and sellers… sending out letters directly to business owners… attending networking events… and posting on social media for deal flow.
Do as much of this as you can and play the numbers game.
Use Excel, Google Sheets or a low-cost customer-relationship management tool to track your activity. If you speak to a business owner, you seed the thought of selling even if they aren’t ready.
Follow up periodically to keep building that relationship. When they are ready to sell, you will be top of their contact list.
3. What do you need to do less?
Time is a resource we all have the same amount of. What we choose to do with our time defines us and the results we get.
Years back I was addicted to box sets on Netflix. A good way of relaxing but not really of adding value to my life (unless I’m watching with my family).
Now I read instead for relaxation. I read books on business, psychology… and I particularly love biographies and autobiographies because success leaves clues.
I recently read about Uber founder Travis Kalanick in Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. I love learning about successful people and modeling their qualities in my businesses and life.
What are you spending a ton of time doing that you need to cut?
Use that time instead to hunt for deals.
4. What do you need to stop doing altogether?
I’m a big believer in doing things in life that serve you and move the needle in the right direction on your wheel of life – toward the major areas that you want to improve.
Every time I look to do something, I ask myself one question: Is this activity going to move the needle for me?
I was once invited to go on a big hike with my CPA. I decided to go, as this would hit two of my growth areas…
One, it was good exercise and I could always use more of that.
Two, it was a chance to spend time with one of my most trusted advisers. I could inquire on potential new deals, ask questions about my business portfolio and continue to learn from someone I admire.
The alternative was to spend the time watching a soccer game by myself, so I went for the activity that was going to move two of my needles.
Whatever your goals are – including buying a business – use this four-part framework to make smart choices with your time, especially as you pursue deals.
Because you never know when the right one will come into focus.
Until next time, bye for now.
