M02.17 The Road To Niches – Part II

Victoria's blog yesterday, a wonderful talk I read this morning from one of my teachers, combined with my chaotic life that appears every time I move location (I am back in Australia now) has suggested that today I ponder focus, goals and your niche. Some of you are writing about exploring multiple niches. It's a positive way to start so you can experience more around the concept of niche, however the aim is to focus down to one niche. To give the gift of Alexander's Discoveries to a community, you can impact more when you focus into one community of people. It's obvious isn't it? Also, I contend that mega success will usually only result when you do focus with just one niche, and then go deep into it for your entire life. When you attempt to walk along two or three paths simultaneously without getting lost along the way, you are in for a challenging time. It's not impossible, but be prepared to lose something: family life, hobby time, abundant holidays. There are better ways to find success, and simplicity is at the heart of it all. In David Kirkpatrick's book The Facebook Effect, he reports that Mark Zukerberg, the CEO of FaceBook, starts every day with the question: "What is the most useful thing I can do to-day?" A question like that is only meaningful when you have a life mission. What is your life mission? Have you written it down anywhere? The answer for most people is no. I suggest you open a new file in your computer, call it Life Mission and write down one sentence that will summarize it for today. At least once a month, return to it and ask the question: Have I been doing that? Do I need to rewrite it? What you do defines your life – thinking is easily divorced from the truth of you. Write the statement clearly reflects what is true, not the one you wish for. Getting honest is the first step to real change. Not convinced? Also try this little experiment: find someone you know who is rich (and that may be hard by itself) by their own efforts (not inherited wealth) and ask them: "What's the key to your success?" I promise you this – they will love that you asked the question (most people don't) and they will have an answer for you. They may not call it a "life mission" but you will see that they have thought about it, have ideas and are guided by some mind of "mission" idea. To earn $30,000 a year does not take much focus. To earn $100,000 certainly takes more, and implies acquisition of skill. To earn one million – my own stated aim – takes 7/24 focus. Your time "off" is by design, not by happenstance. Part of your focus comes from understanding that impact is a function of insight into your community. This is itself a sign of Mastery, and that Mastery results from a long process of continuous trial and error, constant deep practise. Read Daniel Coyle's Talent Code if you haven't already. He explains the neuroscience of Mastery. So returning to you and your struggle to find a niche. Yes, I know it is hard. Yes, I know you fear that putting all your focus to one niche will "limit" you. However, I suggest you talk to people who have already done this, and ask them if they feel "limited"? Does Peter Grunwald feel limited by only addressing vision issues? Does Steven Shaw feel limited by only working with swimmers? My guess is no. My guess is that they have rich, focused lives full of satisfying interactions with scores of enthusiastic students. Wouldn't you like a teaching life like that?