Stay focused in stormy seas: Murray Dempsey, EBI
Focus wins: why zoning in on what matters is your business superpower.
Trump’s off-and-on tariffs have stirred up headlines, market jitters, and boardroom debates. For businesses affected, the instinct is to panic, pivot, or pause. For the rest, it’s fascinating and often a focus of conversation.
Here’s the truth: while global policy shifts matter, the most successful companies aren’t the ones that react to every ripple – they’re the ones that stay focused on what they can control.
In today’s fast-paced, always-on world, distraction is the enemy of progress. Between inbox overload, social noise, and industry drama, it’s easy to veer off course.
The businesses that thrive – truly thrive – are the ones with laser focus on what actually matters. Not everything deserves your attention. Chasing every trend, reacting to every hiccup, or constantly comparing yourself to competitors is a recipe for burnout, not success. What really moves the needle is knowing your core purpose, staying clear on your goals, and directing your energy where it counts.
Importantly, not spending energy on what doesn’t. Ask yourself: ‘What’s in my control? Where can I actually make an impact?’ That’s where your time and resources should go. Not on things you can’t control, too much focus on what competitors are doing, not doing,
or noise that’s interesting but clouds your vision.
When you focus on what’s truly important – your customers, your team, your product or service – you build momentum. You start leading, not reacting. That kind of clarity is magnetic. Your team aligns, your brand strengthens, and your growth becomes intentional.
Staying focused doesn’t mean ignoring the world.
It means choosing your battles. It means saying ‘no’ more often, so you can say a louder, more confident ‘yes’ to what effectively drives your business forward.
So cut through the clutter and reclaim your focus. In business, as in life, the most powerful progress comes not from doing more but from doing what matters most.
At EBI, we help business owners cut through the noise and focus on what truly drives results. Your initial discussion is no obligation, and we guarantee you will gain value from the meeting.
