One of the central issues that plagues many of us when starting or running a business is focus. It's easy to be distracted by new ideas, other things we "need" to do, our rationalized distractions or other obligations. When I decided to redo my site and focus on small business and helping others with theirs, the first thing I asked myself was whether or not I was doing this as a distraction or an excuse for not doing actual work on any of a number of start-ups I have in progress. For once, I can say that I wasn't, and in fact I learned a quick lesson that I want to make the first I share with you.

There will always be distractions and they will dominate us if we let them become our excuses for not doing what we really want. Why do we do that? Because the reality is, that no matter how much you love whatever business you are running or starting or working in, it won't always be fun, and it is in those moments that we are most tempted by outside distractions. I quickly figured out that there are some things I really enjoy doing (blogging is one of them) and am not going to stop, yet I knew I couldn't allow them to continually be a distraction from working on my businesses. The answer that came to me, like most great answers, was deceptively simple. Use that interest or hobby to help you focus on what you are trying to accomplish instead of as a distraction from it. Hence the departure from personal blogging and the entry into business blogging. Now I'm excited and energized to see how I can transform other hobbies and distractions into positive business momentum. I expect the compound effect to be tremendous and hopefully profitable.

OK, so how does business blogging help focus my entrepreneurial energy? By keeping my mind on business for one. But more importantly, when you have to articulate something verbally or in writing, it forces you to think through it differently than if it just rattles around in your head. It starts to take form as you externalize it, ideas mature, new solutions come to light and new questions are asked starting the cycle all over but from a new point, not the same place you just were.

So how do we get there? The first step is to get honest with your self about what your distractions are. It's OK, we all have them and should, it's how we use them that gets us into trouble. So my challenge to you is to think about how you can take one (just one) of those distractions and turn it into something that will help you focus on your business or financial goals.

In return, let us hear what you come up with. I'll bet there are some brilliant solutions out there and many people may share your distraction who would benefit from your ideas.