Create a Winning Idea and Strategy

Stephanie J. Womack
Feb 6, 2017
3 min read

Can I be honest?

Starting something is not an accomplishment, although it’s a monumental step. Starting is easy and has little value. Staying focused, creating, and seeing something through to the end is what matters. And if it makes you money, that’s a bonus. And finding focus can be the biggest struggle…

To find focus, you have to reject the ideas that aren’t crucial right now. And trust me, I get how painful that sounds, but feeling overwhelmed and not being able to focus on one idea keeps you from fulfilling your purpose, which actually sounds just as painful.

The good news is that the creating doesn’t stop. It happens in phases as you focus on different aspects of goals and ideas. I think it’s really important (and freeing) to be able to suffer through the process of vetting now because once you figure certain things out, you can apply the process to your other ideas.

You just have to consider one simple question when it comes to your many ideas: Is working on X going to get me to Y in Z timeframe? How you answer will tell you if that idea needs to be on your short-term or long-term list. There are several inputs (time, focus, money) and outputs (products, newsletters, services) that are underpinned by setting and accomplishing a goal

The point is…you won’t be able to write and publish your book, if you don’t write. You won’t be able to have a website, if you never create. You won’t be able to lose weight, if you don’t exercise. You won’t be able to accomplish your major life goals if you don’t focus on one area and the small goals along the way. Even if your goal is to do several things, find comfort in the fact that you don’t have to do it all at once or by yourself.

One of the things I have learned from listening to and watching my mentors is that, once you do the hard, messy and tiresome work to figure out a system that works, you can replicate and modify over time. You won’t get to this point if you don’t vet your list and then validate what you choose.

So, how do you create a winning idea? You have to focus on your strengths.

I outline a 2-part process, in my book. First, I recommend you start with what you KNOW you do well and acknowledge areas that you can improve. In strategic planning, this is called a SWOT analysis. Second, I recommend my 4-step process to creating a winning idea and strategy, called the PUSH Analysis™. This is a process to take inventory of your Passion, Product, People and Process. The PUSH Analysis™ is going to help you see where the Passion lies, Understand the money opportunities (products), figuring out who to Sell it to(people), and working through the How of it all (process).

Part of the struggle of reaching our goals is our resistance to the focus it takes to get clear on what the heck we are even doing. Remember that God is not an author of confusion. Eliminating confusion depends on your ability to elevate your level of focus.

Stephanie Womack is an author and speaker that specializes in PR strategies for hearts, minds and souls, helping women take their personal responsibility to the next level. Her latest book, Standing on Sinking Sand, is a personal development book with over 25 practical life lessons to make the rest of your time the best, and achieve any goal. You can download the Rebrand Your Fear Workbook, as a FREE gift from Stephanie to learn her 4- step process to shift your mindset and start building your personal brand. Get Stephanie's weekly newsletter, First Things First, in your inbox for an exclusive first look at the blog and additional resources.