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Oct 15, 2024

Welcome to today’s video, where we’ll dive deep into one of the biggest obstacles that sabotage business owners—distractions! In this video, we’re focusing on a mindset shift that can change the way you approach growth, revenue, and time management in your business. Today’s topic is “Focus on the River, Not the Stream.” This concept can help you streamline your efforts, reduce time-draining activities, and ultimately increase your profits.

Close Every Deal: Why It's a Trap

As business owners, we have an instinct to try to close every deal, capture every sale, and serve every single customer. It seems like the more we do, the more we earn, right? Well, not always! While it might feel like you’re being productive, focusing on every deal or opportunity can actually kill your time and diminish your profits. Not all opportunities are created equal. If you spend too much time chasing smaller, less profitable deals, or servicing customers that demand excessive attention, you’re taking your eye off what truly matters—your rivers of revenue. This is where today’s lesson comes in: Focus on the river, not the stream.

The Rivers: Your Key Revenue Drivers

So, what exactly are the "rivers" in your business? Rivers are your primary sources of income—the services or products that consistently bring in the most revenue, the most profit, and require the least amount of time to fulfill. Focusing on these revenue drivers is the key to scaling your business efficiently. Let’s break it down:

  1. What Brings in the Most Revenue? – Look at the services or products that are consistently generating the highest volume of income for your business. These are your core offerings and should be prioritized.

  2. What Brings in the Most Profit? – Revenue alone isn’t enough. You need to focus on the services that deliver the best profit margins. This is where your business’s health truly lies.

  3. What Takes the Least Amount of Time but Delivers Great Profits? – Time is money! Identify the offerings that require minimal effort but still generate a good profit. These should be top priorities for scalability.

  4. What Has the Largest Potential Customer Base? – Focusing on products or services with broad appeal can exponentially grow your business, as these “rivers” can feed a steady stream of income for a long time.

The Streams: Time-Draining Distractions

On the other hand, “streams” are the distractions—the offerings or deals that take up your valuable time but don’t deliver a high return. Here are some examples:

  • Additional Services: These might add value but often take more time and resources to fulfill. If they don’t significantly contribute to your profit, they might be worth cutting.

  • High-Ticket Clients: While these customers bring in more money per transaction, they are often more demanding and require more attention. They can drain your time and energy, so consider whether they are worth the effort.

  • Partnerships: While partnerships can bring in large deals, they often take a significant upfront investment of time with minimal immediate payoff. Be mindful of how much time you’re spending on these opportunities.

  • Large or Group Deals: Though they can look appealing, these deals often require heavy discounts or extended negotiation periods, which reduce overall profitability.

Homework: Identify and Cut the Streams

Your action item this week is simple yet powerful: Identify the streams in your business that are draining your time and profits. Which services, clients, or deals are you focusing on that aren’t delivering the returns you need? Once you’ve identified them, make the hard decision to cut them out. Redirect your focus toward the rivers—the areas that are bringing in the majority of your revenue and profit.

This mindset shift will free up your time, allowing you to focus on the opportunities that truly drive your business forward. Remember, growth comes not from doing more but from doing the right things.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video! Leave a comment below on what streams you’re cutting from your business this week!