What's your external focus ratio? How does it compare?

Are you wondering how FY2009 will turn out for you, your brands, your business, or your organization?  Here's a proven diagnostic test.  First, estimate your EF (external focus) ratio:

EF = A/S + I/P, where

A = Time, attention and money invested in empathizing with and understanding ones audience

S = Time, attention and money invested in empathizing with and understanding oneself

I = Number of thoughts and conversations about ideas

P = Number of thoughts and conversations about people

Now, the greater your EF ratio - as compared to others competing for the same audience's time, attention and money - the greater your chances of success.  That's all there is to it.  Feed the numerators.  Starve the denominators. 

Note: Since you have abolutely no idea what others are doing with their numerators, you should be paranoid as hell and invest heavily in yours.  Is that what you're doing?

Posted November 28, 2008
Email this post   Bookmark and Share   

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c684b53ef01053629bea2970c

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference What's your external focus ratio? How does it compare?:

Comments

Bob Souer

Tom,

I find it fascinating that we should emphasize ideas over people. Not disagreeing, just intrigued. All in all, I like what you have here. Especially your last point.

Be well,
Bob

Posted by: Bob Souer | November 29, 2008 at 12:43 PM

Anthony Mendez

I think that without the emphasis on Ideas, there is a risk of having A and P cancel each other out or at least without empathy, P might diminish the impact of A.

I agree with Bob - this is very intriguing. I think I'll print it and post it in my studio as a reminder of where my focus should be.

Thanks Tom!
PEACE.
-Anthony

Posted by: Anthony Mendez | November 30, 2008 at 11:33 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.