One of my biggest challenges is staying focused on a few key business objectives...and not get distracted by new ideas. The very simple advice of "less is more" applies to so many things. It is truly a universal truth. I thought about it and realized it applies to so many different things.
LESS IS MORE for...
- makeup. Too much makeup in the wrong environment can look garish or tacky.
- accessories. They can get over done if you have matching a necklace, earrings, bracelet, belt and ankle bracelet.
- room decorations. Too many knicknacks just ends up looking like clutter. If you've ever staged a house to sell, you know the pain of decluttering your house...and the amazement of how good it looks after you are done!
- most marketing documents. When you have a simple and straightforward message and images, it is usually has a higher impact than if you try to communicate everything.
- having your children decide what to eat. "Do you want a hamburger or cheeseburger?" is a much easier question for a young child than "They have sandwiches, salads, hot dogs or pizza..what do you want?"
- selecting a brand of crackers. An interesting book "The Paradox of Choice
" by Barry Schwartz notes that consumers are bombarded with too many decisions. Like trying to choose the "right" cracker out of the 85 brands at the grocery store. The author recommends that businesses who reduce choices for their clients see more loyal clients and less "post-decision regret:" the inevitable "I should have gotten the other one."
- having your clients schedule a service. For example, "swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, Thai or Lomi Lomi?" and then..."male or female therapist?" and then... "which day? which time?" Consider narrowing your menu to prevent client decision overload. It should not require 10 minutes to study your service menu before a client can decide what they want. Consider offering open times to schedule their service before asking clients to name the time.
Simplify. Declutter. Reduce client post-service regret.
These things makes so much logical sense, I'm still at a loss to understand why it is so challenging to do. Whether in my work, with my kids or even my closet of clothes I don't wear, I find that setting smaller goals is the best strategy to stay focused on the big picture. My next "small" goal is to unsubscribe to non-critical email newsletters -- I get far too much e-mail that is simply "interesting" but isn't critical.
What is one thing you can do less of to be more productive, successful, profitable, balanced, happy?
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