If you use hard water, mineral build up over time will narrow and weaken your water flow. Because it happens gradually, it’s one of those things you don’t notice until you’re standing in the shower under a trickle. It’s a fairly simple process to clean out the build up and restore the flow, but for some reason, people usually wait until it reaches a critical point before doing anything.
What processes in your business show similar signs of build up? Have you ignored the issues, assuming that it wasn’t an emergency—yet?
I pose these questions as an equal offender. There are business channels and marketing efforts I’ve left to their own devices the last few months, and I’m seeing the signs of a weaker flow. So the advice I’m giving myself and you is this:
Instead of focusing on new opportunities, look at the channels you already have in place and give them a good cleaning.
It’s not sexy advice, and I’m not advocating that you pass up making a time-specific decision. However, we’re obsessed with the idea of new to the point that we’re leaving viable strategies and tools by the wayside. Fight the temptation of new and shiny and spend the time polishing up what you already have. The results will probably surprise you—in a good way.