Embrace The Lack of Focus and Learn to Delegate Better

You may say I’m a dream, but I’m not the only one 🎶

I’m not a focused person. I’m a hyper-focused person. I don’t multi-task well. I can’t listen to someone speak while I check a text message. I often find myself saying “can you repeat that?” on calls because I wasn’t paying attention. I get distracted easily, and when I get distracted, I hyper-focus on that distraction. It’s a tough personality trait to manage but I do my best.

I’ve tried not bringing my cell phone into meetings or keeping it in my pocket on silent mode. I’ve tried the Pomodoro technique. I’ve battled with meditation. Some days are better than others. Maybe I’m a byproduct of our millennial, technology-infested generation. Adding fuel to the fire I’m borderline ADD, more fidgety than a spinner, and a certified daydreamer. My favorite encounter is asking someone what their name is and immediately tuning out to hear the response. You’ve been there.

This lifestyle, of course, has led to many, many business ideas. I’m like the crazy toy guy constantly pitching new ideas to my friends and family. Usually, the ideas stink, but there’s no such thing a bad idea, right? I learned from some of the best entrepreneurs (Buffett, Jobs, Gates) that FOCUS is the number one ingredient to success. So I’ve preached focus when talking to my team and clients. Yet, looking at my daily life I am far from focused. I am running an agency, invested in 20 different companies, launching two new companies, running a bowling league and an entrepreneurial event series.

I’ve questioned my motives and wonder if I’m spreading myself too thin. But at the end of the day, I keep forging ahead on all fronts. I do it because I love what I do. I like managing a lot of different things. Would I be more successful if I just focused on one thing? Probably. But I’m a dreamer and the world needs people like me.

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.”— Steve Jobs

I think I’ve found an answer to my lack of focus. A way to let me ponder and dream while achieving a high level of execution. That answer is Delegation. I understand the things that I do best, and I find people that compliment those skills that I can delegate tasks to. My favorite structure for a new business is where I get to focus on the things I do best — branding, operations, legal, and pursuing the execution of the business through the machine that is my company King Tide. One of the new businesses I’m launching is a CPG brand for bath products — Bathful. I got to create the product, brand the company, and then found an investor/operator to handle the backend of the business. Meanwhile, my team will execute on e-commerce development and marketing. In essence, I am still focused on the things I do best while building a team that can execute alongside me.

I’ll always make mistakes and I’ll continue learning and growing. Maybe I am spread too thin. Maybe I should focus on one business. But for now, I am motivated to be successful in many different verticals. If Elon Musk can do it, why can’t I? Did I just compare myself to the greatest inventor of our generation? Yes. And I feel great about it. I’m a dreamer. Let me dream.

“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.” — John Lennon