Calvin Coolidge once said:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Who can disagree with that?

This week on my favorite forums, I posted the challenge to pick just one thing and focus on it. Having your to do list is great, but there are things that are a bigger priority on that list that must be pushed to the top.

This week I focused on my newsletters. I’d been neglectful and hadn’t been posting them as often as is necessary. One of them I’m sure it is because I was making the newsletter too big. I have decided to scale it back and link to articles and sections on my site instead of full articles. Then there were a couple of newsletters I’d never sent a thing to a joint newsletter I wanted to get some things pre-written for my biz partner to use in the coming weeks so she doesn’t have to come up with so much.

When you’re starting a business, seeing the “big” picture is important. Many entrepreneurs have stated that had they looked at the small details in their business they may not have started the business in the first place. This is because many of us get bogged down by all the small details and often it can put us off starting something new.

If you’re starting a new venture, here are a few tips to help you stay focused on the “big” picture:

Not so many years ago, many women didn’t work outside the home. Nowadays, it’s becoming increasingly common, particularly as children get older. This creates many challenges that women in past generations didn’t face.

These new challenges include balancing children and work, making time for yourself, making time for your partner, dealing with the responsibilities of running a household… The list goes on an on.

Even with a completely supportive partner, families may still find it difficult to juggle so many responsibilities. And women may feel that they’re falling short all the time, which in turn can lead to unhappiness and even ill health.

Being a good decision maker can help you in business and life. It’s been said that highly confident people make decisions clearly and stick to them rather than changing their minds or being indecisive. I go back and forth with this. I am a highly confident woman, BUT that said I do let others make stupid decisions for me that I wouldn’t have. So don’t let others outward confidence make you feel smaller in anyway. We all have a tough time making decisions in certain areas.

Running a business can often be difficult – even at the best of times. When you’re experience hard times in your life, whether due to personal stresses or business stresses, times can get even tougher.

Firstly, take comfort in the fact that nearly all entrepreneurs go through phases like this at some point or other. At times they may feel like they’ve lost all motivation or desire to run the business. At worst, one may feel like giving up on the business altogether.

It’s been said that “no man is an island” – this couldn’t be more true when it comes to working online. Particularly when you’re working from home; it’s very easy to get into a “lone worker” mentality. Avoid this by using our networking tips to help you expand your network.

#1 – Build a support system. Find others in your field or work and build up a support system. These people will not only understand your business but they’ll also be able to support you in a number of ways, such as sending new business referrals your way or recommending a great service provider. Of course, you’ll also want to help them in return.

The mastermind concept has been around for a long time. Many entrepreneurs will make references to being part of a mastermind group and credit the group in many instances for a big part of their success.

The mastermind concept is simple: you gather with like-minded individuals to help motivate and build each other’s businesses. It’s a great tool for really developing a close network of confidants, business mentors and life-long friends.

It’s been said no man is an island, and the mastermind concept really reinforces this. It’s much easier to build a profitable business when you have an army of like-minded individuals behind you than when you go at it alone.