Distractions, going in different directions, and doing too many things at once can all leave you feeling busy but not productive. It is easy to fall into that pattern. That was me years ago, coming up with excuses about why I was not getting things done and why the results I was getting were not what I had hoped for. I was too busy being busy, and spending far less time planning and staying focused. Developing stronger business focus is something many small business owners struggle with when trying to improve productivity. That all changed when I started to implement what I now call the Focus 123 Strategy.
How the Focus 123 Strategy Improves Business Focus
So what is the Focus 123 strategy?
It is a SIMPLE strategy I use daily that helps me stay focused on the day ahead and take action on the tasks that move the business closer to its goals. Creating daily structure helps improve business focus, particularly for small business owners who are managing many responsibilities at once.
If you have not set goals for your business you can click here for a free template to get started.
Tony Robbins has a quote, “Motion creates emotion.” Once you begin, you start to shift how you feel. How many times have you procrastinated over something on your to-do list, but once you got started, you built momentum and felt proud of the result?
I know I have.
For me, that has looked like sitting down to write an article, picking up the phone to follow up prospects, creating a presentation for a speaking event, marketing a webinar I was running, or doing my bookkeeping. My background is in accounting, and I love numbers. Think about a time when you were in that position, and how you felt once you actually got started.
So what should be on this list of 123?
Focus on the top 3 things that will help grow your business and ensure you fulfil the needs of your clients. Prioritising tasks like this helps maintain business focus and improves overall productivity within your small business.
At the top of the list should be:
• Following up on prospects and making those calls. When you add this to your list, include the names of the 
people you are going to call.
• Deliver the service you promised your client. Be specific about what needs to be done. For example, send Business X a report on recommendations to increase productivity in their business.
• Then add other important items such as administration, marketing, and teamwork.
For each item on your list, make sure you allocate a timeframe. For example, if you are making calls to prospects, you might schedule 30 minutes at 10 am to complete them.
Setting a timeframe helps you complete tasks rather than dragging them out. It also reduces procrastination and helps you move more efficiently from one task to the next. Remember, it is not about how busy you are. It is about how productive you are with your time. Maintaining business focus for small business owners often comes down to managing time effectively and committing to the actions that drive results.
You do not need to limit your entire day to only three things, but these three should be your must-do items. If there are other things you want to get done, add them to your daily list, but do not start them until you have completed your top 3.
If you are a visual person, like I am, you may also like to track your productivity colours. For example, once I complete an item on the list, I highlight it in green. I also write the completion date next to it in red.
If one of the 3 items is not completed, it remains unhighlighted. That way, at a quick glance, I can see what still needs attention. If I have started but not finished an item, I highlight it in yellow. For anything not completed, I write in pencil next to it when I plan to finish it, and then I add it to my 123 list for that day
Give this a go and notice how much you can achieve in a day
Most importantly, do it daily so it becomes a DAILY HABIT. I know personally that when I choose not to do this, my focus becomes blurred. It is time to stop the blurred vision and start creating clarity around what your day will look like. Developing consistent habits like this strengthens business focus for small business owners who want clearer priorities and better productivity.
EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products and services, and improving productivity and cash flow.