Think As Inc

FOCUS AND YE SHALL FIND

When I was pregnant, my husband suddenly noticed pregnant women everywhere he went.  When I was considering buying a house in Queens, I discovered that a co-worker’s uncle was a realtor in our target neighborhood.  There is an experiment where you try to memorize the objects around you, close your eyes and then someone whispers a color, say blue, in your ear.  You are then asked to name all the things in the room that are brown.  Most people can’t name anything but blue things.  The suggestion of the word blue caused you to focus, and your focus changed what you saw.  Likewise, I’m sure there were just as many pregnant women in our area as before, but my husband saw them now because he was focused. 

Focus on an area of interest, and you will be greeted with suggestions of your focus.  If you focus on a new career in journalism, it doesn’t mean that the NY Times will call you the next day with a job.  However, by opening up to the possibility that you could be a journalist, you will start to see opportunities to make it happen.  A call for submissions in your local magazine that you normally overlook suddenly gets noticed.  A neighbor mentions that her nephew, the editor of a newspaper, is coming to visit, and you hear her this time.  On the other hand, if you focus on how your job is a dead end, you will see constant reminders to that point.  Your colleagues seem to have low morale.  You may even fumble a project.

The volatile stock market, dipping consumer confidence and other erratic economic indicators will cause some people to panic and some to people to exalt at a correction.  If you tend to be cynical and risk-averse (as I am) don’t try to be other than you are.  I don’t pretend not to be anxious about bad news.  But I do try to focus on whatever positive I can do.  Where’s the opportunity?  What’s the upside?  Who is benefiting and how I can fit in there?  Focus on the good that you can do, and you will find ways to do it.

RUN THE NUMBERS

Running the numbers means quantitatively measuring what’s important.  If a company wants to develop a new product, it might run revenue numbers to see how big the market is for the product, run cost numbers to see if they are bearable, and run profitability numbers to see if the new product is worth pursuing.  As CEO’s of our careers and lives, we should run the numbers:

Run your revenue numbers to understand your market value.  What are jobs in my industry paying?  What about similar jobs in different industries or different jobs in my current industry?  Am I generating the right revenues for my experience, skill set, work load, ambition?

Run your cost numbers to manage your expenses.  What do you spend on necessities (e.g., food, clothes, housing) and luxuries (e.g., cable, dining out, entertainment)?  Are you withholding properly for taxes and taking advantage of tax-deferred retirement offerings or flexible spending accounts?  Do you have updated insurance quotes for your home, car, life, and other policies?  Are you getting the best rate on your mortgage, car loan, etc? 

Run your profit numbers to optimize your personal bottom line.  Do you save each month or spend more than you earn?  Do you need to start or increase your emergency fund?  How are your investments performing?  Do you need to increase revenues or decrease costs to feel better about your personal finances?

Successful businesses don’t just pick strategies randomly.  They run hard numbers.  Likewise, don’t manage your life without quantifying those measures that are meaningful to you.  If you expect a raise, know exactly how much you require to be ecstatic, satisfied, or ready to leave.  If you want to purchase a house, know exactly how much you’ll need.  Run the numbers, and make proactive, informed choices.