If I asked you, "What are you currently optimizing for?"
Would you be able to easily provide an answer?
Chances are that your answer is either too long (too many things) or you have no answer at all. If so, this post is for you:
This is a powerful yet simple question that has helped me zoom out, get clarity, and guide my decision-making. It's particularly helpful to those in leadership positions because it helps answer all of the smaller, tactical questions that often slow us down.
For example:
I currently co-own a local service business that I spend virtually 0 time on. Even so, it’s optimizing for something — That is, simple cash flow. Not growth, not learning new services, or extending its service area. Just simple predictable cash by leveraging its existing systems.
As for my consulting business, I’m optimizing for more clients. But more specifically, more sales calls.
Without having clarity on the answer, we’re left trying to solve too many problems, and there is an endless number of problems to solve. This is the fastest way to get stuck and slow down progress. I know because I’ve been there (many times before, and very recently).
Simply trying to “grow” is too difficult of a task to undertake. Too many variables are at play, and it’s not specific enough.
When you know the single thing you're optimizing for, be it increasing MRR, acquiring new email subscribers, or launching a new product, it sharpens your focus. It makes it a lot easier to identify which problems to tackle and which ones to ignore, guiding every decision, every strategy, and every late-night brainstorming session.
Your North Star will change over time, and that’s okay. But you need to know its current position. Answering this question is one of the simplest ways that I know to achieve this.
The key is knowing what to say no to. Knowing what you’re optimizing for gives you the confidence and clarity to do so.
Go ahead and try it:
Take some uninterrupted time and answer the question: What are you optimizing for?
If you are ready to:
1. Systemize your business
2. Remove yourself from operations
3. Scale by working on (not in) the business
DM me for details
Would you be able to easily provide an answer?
Chances are that your answer is either too long (too many things) or you have no answer at all. If so, this post is for you:
This is a powerful yet simple question that has helped me zoom out, get clarity, and guide my decision-making. It's particularly helpful to those in leadership positions because it helps answer all of the smaller, tactical questions that often slow us down.
For example:
I currently co-own a local service business that I spend virtually 0 time on. Even so, it’s optimizing for something — That is, simple cash flow. Not growth, not learning new services, or extending its service area. Just simple predictable cash by leveraging its existing systems.
As for my consulting business, I’m optimizing for more clients. But more specifically, more sales calls.
Without having clarity on the answer, we’re left trying to solve too many problems, and there is an endless number of problems to solve. This is the fastest way to get stuck and slow down progress. I know because I’ve been there (many times before, and very recently).
Simply trying to “grow” is too difficult of a task to undertake. Too many variables are at play, and it’s not specific enough.
When you know the single thing you're optimizing for, be it increasing MRR, acquiring new email subscribers, or launching a new product, it sharpens your focus. It makes it a lot easier to identify which problems to tackle and which ones to ignore, guiding every decision, every strategy, and every late-night brainstorming session.
Your North Star will change over time, and that’s okay. But you need to know its current position. Answering this question is one of the simplest ways that I know to achieve this.
The key is knowing what to say no to. Knowing what you’re optimizing for gives you the confidence and clarity to do so.
Go ahead and try it:
Take some uninterrupted time and answer the question: What are you optimizing for?
If you are ready to:
1. Systemize your business
2. Remove yourself from operations
3. Scale by working on (not in) the business
DM me for details
If you like posts like this, you'll enjoy my weekly newsletter. One actionable tip on systems and productivity every Thursday ↓
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