Worry is Contaminated Focus

by Rick White, President 180BIZ                                                            (Estimated Read Time 3 minutes)

In this episode, I’ll talk to you about probably the biggest profit robbery you have in the shop and you're not even aware of it. And that profit robber is WORRY. Worry is a huge issue for all of us. Worry is a focus. In fact, I believe it's a contaminated focus. Worry is something that we do when we stare at the problem, which makes it bigger. The more we look at it, the harder it is to overcome. After we focus on the problem, we start to focus on the feeling.

Catastrophizing happens in a nanosecond.

For example. Let's say your car count is low. You then jump right to, “It's always going to be this way. My clients figured out that we raised our prices.” What we're doing is fear stacking. That’s when we think, “Oh my gosh, I won’t be able to pay my help. They're going to leave. I won’t be able to pay my bills. I'm going to lose my business. My wife will leave me (or my spouse) and the kids won’t love me anymore. The dog will pee on my leg and my truck will catch on fire.” And we do that all in a nanosecond.

Fear stacking is the worst kind of focus to have.

When you fear stack, it's a terrible focus. Now you're no longer focused on where you're going and you're not focused on even the problem anymore. The problem is just a challenge. It's an issue in the shop. Every issue in your shop is a lesson to be learned. Don’t go directly to the contaminated focus.

A better focus is your destination.

What should you be focused on? You should be focused on where you're going. You should be focused on why you're going there. You should be focused on what you have to do to get there.

But here's the thing, we don't do that. We go directly to fear stacking and the problem just gets bigger and bigger. And now you're not focused on where you're going. You're not even moving anymore. What you're doing is looking at the problem and letting it overwhelm you. It shouldn't be like that. You should instead ask yourself, “What do I need to do?” That's where you want your thinking to go.

Worry is a profit-killer.

The reason why worry is such a profit killer is because worry kills momentum. Worry kills focus. Worry kills your destination. Because you're not focused on that. Emotions aren't bad. We let the emotions drive when they are only meant to be a gauge on the dash. The emotions are an indicator because you're worried. You are focused on yourself and your problem and you're no longer in a relationship with your client.

Everything you're talking about is to help you solve that worry. Whether it's paying the bills or making payroll, etc. In the process, your perception of self-interest goes up, trust goes down, no sale.

Step away from the hustle and bustle and do an honest assessment.

Step away from everything for a minute, and I want you to do an honest assessment. On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you? Because I'm going to tell you something that a lot of you don't want to hear. For most of you, worry is running your day. Instead focus on where you're going, how you might get there, and what you will do. You're worried and think, “Well if I do this, is it going to hurt? If I raise my labor rate will I lose business?” That is worry at the core. Step back and feel. On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you?

Worry is a terrible place to live.

Worry is a terrible place to live. Worrying is a terrible way to run your business because that is not a sign of leadership.

If this video resonates with you, if you think this could help someone, please share it. Let others in. Also, join me in our next Shop Owner’s Round Table.  It’s the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM Eastern time.  Check out my Pocket Business Genius webinar series you’ll find helpful webinars and webinar recordings there. It’ll be a game changer for a lot of shops.

God bless. stay safe, have some fun, and go make some money.

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