What’s most vital to you as an entrepreneur? Are you attempting to make a fast buck or are you attempting to construct a sustainable stream of income? Do you desire to continually hustle to earn one other buck, or do you desire to grow your small business organically?
Most individuals would select the latter option for every of the above questions. Simply put, most entrepreneurs pursue dreams of constructing successful businesses and, because of this, wealth.
After all, different people have different views on success and wealth. Each are very subjective, but most entrepreneurs would agree that they wish to be in business for the long haul.
Does that describe you? Do you desire to be in business for longer?
If it’s true that the majority entrepreneurs construct for the long haul, then why accomplish that many proceed to take a position money and time in pursuing “low-hanging fruit” as an alternative of putting that effort into strategies and tactics that construct long-term, organic, sustainable growth?
I see. You could have to go after the low hanging fruit because you may have to earn a living fast. In the event you don’t sell and generate revenue within the short term, you will not have a business in the long run.
That is a vital argument. Nevertheless, low-hanging fruit may also distract you out of your original mission and greater purpose. This is named mission creep and it’s an actual problem that traders should always be careful for.
Let’s return to the start
Ask yourself these questions:
- Why are you doing business?
- Who’s your ideal customer and what problem do you solve for them?
- How most of the low-hanging fruitful opportunities actually put you on the most effective path to fulfilling your mission and solving the issues of your ideal clients?
- How lots of these low-hanging fruitful opportunities distract you out of your mission and ideal clients?
Be honest. The answers to those questions will assist you to evaluate the opportunities and select those which are best for you and the business you desire to construct.
The important thing to success is focus
If you allow your mind, your actions, and your priorities to be cluttered by opportunities that do not assist you to on the trail to achieving your goals, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and possibly failure.
In other words, the fastest and shortest path between two points is a straight line. Low-hanging fruit could make this line very crooked. Sometimes it will probably even cause you to bypass your goal completely!
Before anyone says, “She said I should ignore easy wins,” rest assured, that is not what I mean in any respect. I like to recommend that you just evaluate every opportunity—even the one which seems the simplest—and ensure that it doesn’t take you too removed from achieving your goals.
One in all the primary things I at all times teach marketing students, professionals, business owners, and customers is that a focused brand is a robust brand.
If you attempt to be every little thing to everyone (or benefit from every opportunity), your audience will likely be confused. They’ll not know what to anticipate from you. Confusion is the primary brand killer, and your customers will turn away out of your brand if it confuses them. As an alternative, they are going to search for a brand that meets their expectations in every interaction.
With this in mind, fastidiously consider each occasion and ensure that it’s relevant to your brand AND your goals.
Be strategic for the most effective results
Do you desire to keep hustling to earn a living fast? If that’s the case, deal with low-hanging fruit. Do you desire to construct a sustainable income from a growth-oriented business? If that’s the case, be more strategic and consider low-hanging fruits as only a small a part of your long-term business and marketing plan. There’s room for each. You simply should approach it correctly.
Originally published on 8/12/16. Updated 3/24/23.