With so many distractions in our lives today, staying focussed as an entrepreneur requires commitment and ongoing dedication. By not staying focused it is real easy for us to get caught up in the day to day tasks that make very little difference. As a mother of 3 and entrepreneur I know how the "urgent not important" tasks can take over.
The friends we let into our lives have a huge impact on our focus and on our family - some good, some not so good. The old saying of "you are who you hang out with" is never more true when you are a business owner.
What I have learned from my mentor and experience is that friends typically fall into 5 categories:
1.The Refreshers - those who strengthen you and encourage you
2.The Refiners - those who sharpen you and help clarify your vision
3. The Reflectors - those who mirror your energy and neither add to you or subtract from you
4. The Reducers - those who try to diminish your goals to their comfort levels
5.The Rejectors - those who don't understand you or what you are striving for and thereby steal your energy through criticism.
Taking a good look around, you can make the difference. Assess how many friends you have in "the Refreshers & the Refiners" categories. Strengthen your relationships with these people. Spend more time with them and see how this impacts you and your life. On the flip side reduce the amount of time you spend with the "Reducers & the Rejectors" and see how this impacts you.
Remember only you are in control of this and only you can apply these filters. Of course this is not going to happen overnight. This process if executed appropriately will be a seamless one and of course a daily ongoing one.