Don't chase ornaments. Focus on the core.

I was listening to a radio marketing expert this morning and he was talking about how the struggles in radio because of the internet and other competitive forces.  One statement that he said resonated with me because it is something I have often thought myself.

When building something, people tend to chase ornaments rather than focusing on the core.

Regardless of what area we could talk about, I have found this to be true.  That includes businesses, churches, and education.  If you learning to be a better pianist, this applies to you too.

This is what I have often seen in business.  A person gets an idea–perhaps they want to open a shop.  They then spend an enormous amount of time on things that may be somewhat important but not most important–business cards, embroidered tee shirts, fancy software and tools, etc.  The time invested in these things often distracts from the core of what they do–selling.

In my world of internet marketing, I see companies wasting time on little website widgets and the latest fads while ignoring what should be their core–providing something of value in a competitive way.

I have learned the hard way that the little fancy stuff may help a bit, but my time should be spent in the core of what I do.  For example, on this site, the fancy Facebook integration is helpful, but what really matters is that I have content of value so that people want to come here.  My primary focus has to be on the quality of the education I give and on the quality of my own music.

Don’t think that the little extraneous things are going to be a big game-changer in your endeavors.  It is not impossible, but is unlikely.  If you own a business, don’t spend too much time on logos; focus on your products.  If you have a church, don’t waste time creating slogans; find a way to get your church to BE the slogan. If you are learning music, don’t try to get too cute; make sure you are rock solid in the basics first.