Focus on the Core

Constraints are an integral part of any system. Business is not an exception to this rule. For small businesses, they are plentiful. However, they force us to be more creative and utilize the resources optimally. The real challenge is knowing where to focus. I suggest a simple way to identify it. Just ask yourself whether your product/service could exist without that component? If it could, then it is not an essential part of your solution. It may be refining it, but you can live for a while without it. An Architect does not worry about the design of the wall tiles while finalizing the building layout. The same logic applies to most of the products/services. If we focus on what we can do now instead of worrying about the bigger picture, we get moving.

You may have watched the show of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey. He helps restaurants turn-around from a mess. In most cases, his first step is cutting the menu down to 10 dishes. He then works hard on making these dishes awesome. We in business forget his advice. It is critical to focus on the core and polish it before adding the frills. The world is changing. By focusing on the essential parts, we get a certain level of permanency in our decision-making.

Metrics:

1. Are we asking for resources we don't have?

2. If we are, ask whether we really need them NOW?

3. Collect data to validate whether each added part is adding a significant value to the customers? If not, be ruthless and remove it.

• Subodh

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