Are you being lured off track?

10003797 Have you ever had the experience of driving along, paying attention to something off in the horizon and next thing you know, you’ve driven to that spot?  And it wasn’t where you meant to go?

The same phenomenon can happen in your business. 

My most recent post over at Small Business Branding talks about how you can keep your competition from luring you away from your own business plan/path

it’s a dangerous and all too common problem.  Much like my driving example — letting your competition lure you from doing what you need to do can cost you some serious time, money and other resources.

You don’t want to get caught up in the "me too" game of following your competition’s lead.  Come on over and jump into the discussion.

6 comments on “Are you being lured off track?

  1. Drew – Funny thing is, it’s a natural “pathway” that’s been built into our heads. One of the first lessons you learn when you’re trail running (or mountain biking, or anything that requires that you NOT run into things) is to look at where you want to go, rather than the things you want to avoid.

    Stare at the big boulder next to the trail and sure enough, you’ll hit it. Stare at the roots in front of you and you’ll sprain your ankle.

    But the thing that you’ve nailed on the head is that you have to learn to not look at the obstacles.

    – Clay

  2. Ellen Weber says:

    What a great metaphor drew, and who hasn’t had this happen on the road and in business! In fact, even social media can lure one onto pathways away from a clear vision, but then so can many voices and even opposing views add to the wonder of a thing. Seems to me that we need to reset goals daily to leap back into the pathway again and again, but at the same time, we’ll want to deviate a bit to learn from others along the way. It’s also the way the human brain create synergy:-) So glad I stopped by to see this sketch of a vision to follow. Great reminder.

  3. Liz Walker says:

    One of the most telling comments on this for me came when I saw a training video for drivers. The instructor asked, “Why do you think that out-of-control cars always hit the tree (or the barrier or the building or whatever) right in the middle of the hood?” Well, turns out this is because people under the stress of an incipient accident stare at the tree and actually aim the car at it – we have to be trained to look in the direction we want to go, not where we are actually going. So when we see the competition doing something we are afraid will hurt us, we stare at it in fascination – and aim for it head first. Let’s learn to look where we want to go, not where disaster is waiting for us.

  4. Clay,

    From a practical business POV, how do you think someone best learns how to do that — to purposefully avoid looking at the obstacles.

    And for the half empty glassers in the crowd — does that leave you vulnerable to the damage those obstacles can cause?

    Drew

  5. Ellen,

    Without a doubt, the detours can be the most fun! And it’s an okay choice to wander down a detour’s path, as long as you still keep your eye on your own goals/purpose so when the respite is over, you can find your way back to the straight and narrow.

    I think spending even 5-10 minutes every morning getting clear on your vision/goal would be a huge push in the right direction, don’t you?

    Drew

  6. Liz,

    Such a vivid example — thank you. You’re so right, we need to figure out a way to avoid being mesmerized by the pending disaster.

    How do you think we should/could help clients do that?

    Drew

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