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Throw Spagetti and see what sticks then focus?

by Scott Ames
9 replies
Focus... that word is tossed around a lot. I agree one must focus, but focus on the wrong thing is worse than no focus in my opinion.

Eben says to (and I paraphrase) notice what works, then throw everything into it.

The problem is one perhaps doesn't know what works until they try several things.

Thoughts?
#focus #spagetti #sticks #throw
  • Profile picture of the author Keith Boisvert
    I run into this problem daily. I have found myself with multiple businesses, and multiple projects to focus on. Some businesses are at the point of evaluating to decide what to do with them, but I need to "throw some things at it" to decide whether to move on or whatever.

    I tend to work better with multiple things to do, but focus always remains an issue.

    I base what to focus on based on whats most important at the moment, and then prioritize down from there.

    It aint easy. I long for the days when I could only focus on one thing!!! But with multiple businesses comes $$, so its all worth it in the end.

    Not that this post answered your post, I guess I lost focus


    keith
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  • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
    Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

    Focus... that word is tossed around a lot. I agree one must focus, but focus on the wrong thing is worse than no focus in my opinion.

    Eben says to (and I paraphrase) notice what works, then throw everything into it.

    The problem is one perhaps doesn't know what works until they try several things.

    Thoughts?
    Most beginners will never know what works because they never stick at it. But even when they do there's a flaw in most of the stuff that people claim will work so it's not fault of the person to not make money with it.

    For me I tried the whole theory "rinse and repeat" but a lot of the time it failed to work as well as before. This concludes to "understand the risk of repeating what worked before and you won't be let down if it doens't work".
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  • Profile picture of the author hotftuna
    I agree that it is good to dabble.

    I'm trying some things with cpa. My content is kind of weak. If I can make just one or two sales using a particular method, then I know that it is time to focus time and money on the project and go for it first class.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kezz
    I totally agree, because what works for an individual depends on them as a person as much as on the viability of any particular system or approach. Everyone is good at different things, and you can't possibly know what you will find your feet in until you try various things.

    Plus, it's also not just what works, but what you can sustain. You might have success in a certain area but after a while find that it's "just not you". In such a case you just might not be able to see yourself keeping something up long term, and decide to look for a new path.

    Either way, the only possible means to find what you should focus on is to sample all the options on the menu.
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  • Profile picture of the author kelvin yeo
    I dont know about everybody else but throwing stuff on the wall and seeing what sticks is pretty much how I've found niches to work with. I usually do this thru bum marketing. Only when a niche makes some sales do I bother to put up a site and SEO the heck out of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fabian Tan
    I think you're right Scott. The process should look like this:

    Step 1: Information-getting/Understanding the different business models/Trying out different strategies

    Step 2: At some point, start focusing on ONE business model

    Step 3: Massive expansion of business or build multiple income streams from different business models/niches

    Fabian
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  • Profile picture of the author Frodr
    It definately makes sense to work in more than one niche.

    I mean if you stay with one niche and continue to put in work and it turns out to be non profitable you just wasted plenty of time.

    By working in more than one niche at a time you get to see which niches are working and you could focus more on those and drop the ones that make little or no profit.

    Once you find 2 or 3 hot niches, u should stick with it and continue to systemize and automate. Then look for some more niches.

    -Felix
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      It's called testing...something that requires a lot of patience and something
      that a lot of people don't have.

      And then, even when you find something that "works" and I use that term
      in the loosest sense, things happen.

      For example, take a look at the latest Google lawsuits and FTC crackdown
      on testimonials.

      Do you realize that a boat load of copywriting books are now going to have
      to be seriously rewritten?

      Affiliate marketing has all of a sudden gotten a LOT tougher.

      Remember when MFA sites first came out and how much money they made
      people, especially when you had all that great software that churned
      these sites out by the ton?

      Where are they now?

      Success at this, or any other business for that matter, requires keeping
      your eyes open for changes in the environment.

      Just because your XYZ doodad works today, doesn't mean it's going to
      work tomorrow.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gavin Stephenson
    If anyone buys a product online that Has Rave Reviews they should stick at it untill they see success with it. It must work if a ton of people say is does right?

    But people get distracted by the new shiny product and think that might be better which builds the snow ball effect
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