Building A Successful Business Is All About Focus

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When I was attempting to decide what to name my blog, I thought about the characteristics that are integral to all stellar software companies. Thus the blog name, “Software Strategy, Focus and Execution”.

As a previous executive for operations with 30 years of experience in software, I have observed companies do it well and businesses do it badly. Now as one of OpenViews’ venture partners where we invest growth venture capital in expansion stage software organizations, I get the chance to make good use of all that experience on “how to do things” and “how not do to things” to teach and groom Founders and/or CEO’s and their management teams.

One single thing I am constantly reinforcing in all my discourses in operation reviews and board meetings among the portfolio companies with which I interact is FOCUS as one of the keys to developing a stellar business. I am sure they are all sick of listening to it but I will continue to remind them of the importance of focus going forward. In truth, at OpenView they’ve named me the CFO for Chief Focus Officer since I constantly remind everyone in the firm why it is crucial for the firm, in addition to our portfolio companies, to stay focused.

That is why this blog, written by Martin Zwilling from the Founders Corner in the Business Insider is a must read for all founders, CEO’s and their management teams.

The title is “Six Reasons Being Focused Is The Greatest Determinant Of Success” and Martin stresses six points in the blog:

1. Time to market is critical
2. Keep infrastructure costs low
   
3. Need to be nimble
   
4. Innovate to market leadership
   
5. Maintaining quality is key
   
6. Personal bandwidth is limited

I loved the blog and I am hoping you do as well. If so kindly forward it to your teams and other individuals who can benefit from the stress on focus is a key determinant of success!

George Roberts is a Venture Partner at OpenView and a former member of the executive management team at Oracle, with over 25 years of deep management experience in the software industry.