Focused For Business Success

Find out whether you have that laser beam focus that leads to small business success

Small business success depends in large part on the strategic focus of the entrepreneurs or owners who run the business. Many entrepreneurs are scattered between too many things and do not have the focus they need. There are two important areas of focus. One is strategic focus for the business. The other is the ability of the business owner himself or herself to obtain and maintain focus. This inventory tells you how focused you and your business really are.

Please complete all items. Rate each item on a scale of 1-5. Please choose one number and do not write a decimal, such as 3.5. Select the answer that best represents your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors regarding your strategic business focus. Choose how true each statement is for you.

Directions: Read each statement and choose how true each statement is for you.*

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1. I do not know the mission of my business. I find that the mission of my business doesn’t come up in my business’ day to day operations.
2. I often find it difficult to make a decision and then stick to that decision like glue.
3. Others have told me that I have a hard time staying focused on the true purpose of my business.
4. I am a person who becomes easily diverted and then does not have time to take care of important issues.
5. My business associates sometimes appear frustrated with me because I do not have good follow-through.
6. I frequently feel bad because I do not feel able to balance the needs of all the shareholders investors, employees, personal supports, etc of
7. I do not typically spend much time planning how the pieces of the puzzle (of my business) fit into the bigger picture.
8. My business strategy can be best described as “spur-of-the-moment, "unstructured", or "spontaneous."
9. It is a common experience for me to feel frazzled, as if I am coming apart at the seams.
10. I am someone who finds so many things interesting and compelling that it is hard to settle on one.
11. The slow growth of my business so far may be due to a lack of strategic direction for the company.
12. I often feel like I am running in multiple directions at once.
13. I have been told that I need to “slow down,” “take a deep breath,” “stop and think” or “not do everything at once” on several occasions.
14. I find that I am always thinking of great new ideas, but that they do not often get implemented or carried through to completion.
15. I feel like I have to constantly juggle many tasks and I do not think I am a good juggler.
16. My business has not really been performing optimally in its strategic niche.
17. When I know the best direction for a business decision, I sometimes have difficulty implementing the decision after it has been made.
18. It is typical for me to think, “what is wrong with me that I am doing so many things but so few things really well?!
19. I can see that there are important opportunities for my business, but I have not organized efforts to pursue them.
20. I sometimes do not understand why it is so hard for me to be determined and committed to specific areas of the business.
21. When I think about my greatest challenges, one of the first things that come to mind is my difficulty with maintaining attention and enthusiasm over an extended period of time.
22. I would very much like to be able to feel centered and calm in my business more often.
23. My work associates have hinted that I should concentrate on fewer tasks and not spread myself so thin.
24. There have been several times lately when I found myself procrastinating or putting off the important activities that I needed to do.
25. I can become easily overwhelmed and I worry that this can make my employees, customers, or business associates feel stressed.
26. My business could be better differentiated from our competitors if we strategically directed our efforts at fewer target markets.
27. I know that I would be a better leader if I modeled focus and direction for my employees.
28. If I had my choice, I would make myself be able to sustain attention and energy for longer periods of time.
29. I can see how the business could be more successful if I were better able to provide clear direction for the company and keep everyone focused on achieving those goals.
30. I tend to get enthusiastic about new projects or business opportunities frequently but I then have difficulty maintaining that enthusiasm over the long term, especially if things do not seem to be happening as quickly as I want.

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Total Score 101-150

This score indicates a high likelihood that you have a strong need to develop greater strategic business focusing skills. You are likely to be someone who has many ideas and a high level of energy for new opportunities but have difficulty following through on your ideas and seeing them to fruition. You are also likely to get overwhelmed due to all your business demands and feel that you cannot maintain a clear sense of focus since you are frequently pulled in many directions. These are problems that many entrepreneurs have, and they can actually serve as strengths if you are creative and enthusiastic. Your lack of focus, however, can lead to you feeling stressed and can negatively impact your business. Consider working with a coach to help you improve your business focus.

Total Score 51-100

Your score indicates that you have some difficulties maintaining focus. It is likely that you do have a sense of strategic purpose for your business and that you have some skills in focusing your attention and energies. You also, however, are likely to have some trouble maintaining direction and laser beam focus. You may become distracted easily or lose interest or enthusiasm after the initial excitement of a new project wears off. You may work better in structured or semi-structured environments, and struggle with maintaining focus when you set your own deadlines and schedules. It is probable that your attention at times gets diverted by inconsequential tasks and that you lose sight of the more important manners. Business coaching can help you build upon your strengths and overcome your weaknesses. Overall, your strategic focus can be described as: good in general, with difficulties at times.

Total Score 0-50

Your score indicates that it is likely that you have good strategic focus. You are able to prioritize important activities and devote your time and energy where it is best allocated. You may have a number of good business ideas and you are likely to be able to follow up on the best ones. Your business is probably driven by an important system of values and purposes, which aids in its performance. The task of sustaining strong focus over a long period of time and over many competing influences is a tough one, and one that you are quite successful with negotiating. Your ability to maintain a sense of balance and focus is likely to significantly benefit your business.

Disclaimer: This assessment is not intended to provide a psychological or psychiatric diagnosis and your completion of the test does not indicate a professional counseling or coaching relationship with the creators or administrators of the test.

Your Results: