| I have named it "EADD" or Entrepreneurial Attention | | | | 3. Plan before you take any action. Your first urge |
| Deficit Disorder. A few years ago I thought it was just | | | | may be to answer that ringing phone or respond to |
| an isolated case here and there but now I would say | | | | the first piece of paper you come across, but in many |
| that nearly 40% of all the small business owners I | | | | cases, that is the wrong thing to do. You are much |
| meet suffer from this. Its symptoms include difficulty | | | | better served adding these tasks to your specially |
| focusing on 1 thing at a time, trouble sticking to 1 | | | | designed TO DO list (See #2) , then reviewing this list |
| subject or topic, not being able to finish a task, poor | | | | for what's most critical (using the same 80/20 rule I talk |
| follow through in general, and the in-ability to stick with | | | | about in sales coaching) and then and only then can |
| a new pattern or habit until it becomes consistent. | | | | you begin to take action. |
| I'm no medical doctor and I write this in some jest, but | | | | 4. Keep another section where you can record and |
| honestly folks- I think there is a real correlation | | | | store your great ideas. I have coached a few people |
| between this ADD and being your own boss. | | | | who had so many good ideas they were paralyzed |
| Somewhere, somehow, the same gene that makes a | | | | and didn't know where to start-so they got nothing |
| person bold, daring, smart (even brilliant), insightful and a | | | | done. In my humble opinion, this paralysis is caused |
| leader also contains an inability to stay focused. | | | | because they are afraid they'll loose the thought if they |
| Sound like you? I have now coached 11 different small | | | | don't do something right away. Keeping your future |
| business owners who have this EADD so I've gotten | | | | ideas in a "parking lot" will free up your valuable mind |
| pretty good at coaching them. I recently completed an | | | | space and allow you to focus on the matters at hand. |
| on line course to help me understand this and am | | | | 5. Commit to sticking to new habits- and only 1 new |
| trying like crazy to work on my patience with these | | | | habit at time- for 6 weeks. Folks with EADD seem to |
| clients. Here-for free- are some of the basic tools that | | | | be trying something new all the time- and most of the |
| I insist a client use when I see signs of EADD: | | | | things they want to try are brilliant but they have to |
| 1. Quit multi tasking. The ancient Chinese saying is "Man | | | | stick with it. Making a commitment to your coach or |
| who chase 2 rabbits catch none." Focus on 1 thing-do | | | | someone else in your life that will you try your new |
| it well- until its completed-then move onto something | | | | habit for 6 weeks should give it enough time to "stick". |
| else. | | | | These basic steps are a must for me to get my job |
| 2. You must keep a to do list, and this to do list has to | | | | done. If I'm on the sidelines, coaching an incredibly |
| be in 1 secure place. The other coaches tease my | | | | talented athlete who cannot stay focused, I must first |
| EADD clients because they always are seen with their | | | | work on his concentration skills before we can |
| "Coach Thom Books"-simple $5 journal books where | | | | execute brilliant plays and win the game. First things |
| they keep a special type of To Do List I have | | | | First. |
| developed. | | | | |