A common theme is an entrepreneur starting out maybe with his/her own product website on internet. He/She achieves a little bit of success, see's another avenue where business might grow and dives in without thinking. It might work, but odds are against it. In meantime his initial planned strategy is being totally neglected of resources and time. Multiply this scenario by 3 or 4 and you've got a problem. You will end up dabbling in different areas and not totally concentrating on one.

This goes back to my earlier point, it will not happen overnight. You have to give your business time. You will probably work hardest and be most frustrated for first 8-12 months. If you can focus on business plan goals for this time period, your odds for making it are much higher. Try to ignore other opportunities for time being, at least until you get your business off ground. When you get to that stage, then fun starts and then you can try other things knowing that you have built a solid business which will be there to protect you if your other ideas don’t work out.

Author Jack Foley works from home in Ireland For more articles and information about Jack's home business, visit Jack's website: http://residual-income-home-based-business.com/

Three more comments: first, don't confuse little things with big things. You can't just do all little things well and think that's it. Content is king on internet and television; competence is king in workplace. The competent performance of your job is central to any winning at working strategy. Second, this is not a message encouraging perfectionism. You can't be perfect. If you try to be, you potentially limit yourself and get lost in those little things. Third, some people have a talent for details and noticing little things. But everyone can learn.

Start by noticing those little things which create an impression on you. Little things like cashier doesn't take off sensor tag; or babysitter is late again; or your name is misspelled on an invitation; or orthodontist staff presents a rose to your daughter after her braces come off; or repair man arrives at designated time. What do those little things communicate to you about person or business who delivered them? Consider what your little things are communicating about you.

Bottom line? If you're not paying attention to little things, you're losing opportunities or business. If you want to be winning at working, you have to pay attention to little things, too.

(c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.