Focus on your strengths

To succeed in any area of endeavour including business, you need to be among the best in your field. Those at the top make most of the money. To get to the top, you need to keep getting better at what you are good at. This requires single-minded focus and consistency in the area of personal development.

As an employee, your areas of weakness are usually highlighted during performance appraisals. Plans are often developed to close those gaps or eliminate the weaknesses. While that may work well for an employee in a corporate environment, it slows you down as an entrepreneur. You dissipate effort and waste time pursuing too many things. You end up becoming a Jack of all trades and master of none.

If you chase two rabbits, you catch none, according to an old African proverb. You cannot focus on two things at the same time. You have to decide on what you want to focus on, what will easily take you to the top.

There are several ways of addressing your areas of weakness:

• Bring on board a partner who is strong where you are weak.

• Hire someone who has the skills you need.

• Outsource the task to someone who has the skills and can do it cheaper

When you locate that place where your skill, passion and market needs intersect, you are said to have found your voice. Stay there and be the best you can be, and leave others to be the best they can.

Usiere Uko is the author of Practical Steps to Financial Freedom & Independence and can be reached at usiere@gmail.com, www. financialfreedominspiration.com