Masters of Self-Sabotage

When we don’t move forward in our personal or business life it is more than likely because of self-sabotage. There are a zillion articles and books available about this worrisome behavior, but the main point to know is that we can sabotage ourselves in ways that are so subtle we’d never think to call it that. What I see in entrepreneurs who are not achieving the level of success they wish to have is the self-sabotage of fuzzy focus. Here are a few examples of fuzzy focus:

· Today I sat down first thing, determined to finish up my Christmas cards, list at the ready, and feeling the press of time. Next thing I know, I’m checking e-mail, thinking that I need to blog, and wondering what I should send to my best friend from college for Christmas. Did all these need attention? Yep – but not at that moment – I’d let my focus go fuzzy and sabotaged myself.

· A client worries that she is not busy enough with clients, and we spend an hour talking about ways to remedy the situation. A few days later I happen to spot her in a restaurant and go by to say hi. She tells me that she spent all Sunday morning reading the want ads and wondering if she should “just go get a job.” The self-sabotage? Lack of commitment to her own vision, but the underlying issue is her fear. A week later, she is again bemoaning that she’s “had no time” to work on our strategies to help her find new clients. Hmmm….how about that long Sunday morning?

· How about the entrepreneur who is consistently late to networking meetings – or consistently is “so busy” that she has to leave early? Not being fully present at an event is self-sabotage – the person doesn’t REALLY want to go, and fails to take full advantage of the event by shorting herself in time and attention.

Fuzzy focus is a sure self-sabotage – and one that is hard to spot sometimes. As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for the next niche, the next opportunity, the next new thing. Chances are, we haven’t made full use of the one we’ve got in our hands right now. It’s easier to be excited about the potential of a new thing “out there” (an idea) than it is so sit down and follow-through with what we need to do to move our current business forward. If you suffer from “fuzzy focus” remind yourself that sabotaging yourself doesn’t serve you – and certainly it doesn’t help your business thrive!