The beautiful thing about an entrepreneur is the undying optimism. Let me tell you: Its required to maintain momentum in crossing that 'valley of death'. Yet that optimism can present an opaque lens which makes it difficult to see the difference between value and excitement. Value is an activity and resource that actually moves the business forward; excitement is activity that simply plays on emotion but actually serves to distract from the path forward. Obviously the entire challenge of entrepreneurial success is knowing what to pursue at the right time in light of so many options and a forever changing landscape. That's why when I saw Dawn Todd's post on Chasing Chickens I was beside myself with laughter. Or as one colleague put it recently: chasing shiny objects.
When chasing chickens you are running in circles trying to cover all things before they get away. You know the goal: all chickens need to go back in the coup. YET the art in success is getting them one at a time back into the shed. As an entrepreneur you can't take your eye off the chicken you are currently chasing - make sure it is put away before chasing the big fluffy one that just ran by in the other direction! Of course you must be assured that you are chasing the right chicken so choose wisely, the others will return because they don't stray very far.
