I’ve got a problem.

I’ve got a problem.

I have too many ideas.

Launch a new service offering.

Write a book.

Break into a new market.

Launch another new service offering.

Become a certified meditation teacher.

Start a podcast.

Launch yet another new service offering.

In the past, I chased too many ideas.

My first company promoted concerts,

Activated experiential events,

And booked and managed music acts.

These were the ideas that made it.

But most failed.

There was a social networking website,

A mobile shoe shine business,

And dozens of others I can’t even remember.

After closing down that company, I vowed to focus and specialize.

For the last 10 years, that’s what I’ve done.

The focus?

Business development for agencies, specifically outbound prospecting.

Due to focus, I got really good.

That put me in a position to start this consulting firm.

But the ideas are swirling again.

I want to do more.

But I don’t want to make the same mistake.

Yet I don’t want to miss opportunities.

To overcome this, I’m taking a more systematic approach:

1. Define your purpose

Determine how that purpose is best pursued.

Ask, what’s the strategic vision supporting this purpose?

2. Prioritize ideas

Consider what matters most now and in the future.

Evaluate the impact of the idea.

3. Consider alignment

Does the idea align with the purpose, vision, and priorities?

Look for logical overlaps in ideas.

Which ideas should get green-lighted, scraped, or paused?

4. Evaluate resources

Look at financial requirements and ease of implementation.

Evaluate team members’ strengths and weaknesses.

5. Set objectives and key results

For those ideas that make it, create a timeline with milestones.

How will you measure progress and success?

The framework helps me distinguish innovation from shiny objective syndrome.

But the biggest unlock has been defining my personal and professional purpose.

It’s my North Star.

Success demands singleness of purpose.