One Focus - Make It Matter

By Tim Ikels

Last Updated: February 13, 2025

Tim Ikels - ProfileHey, Tim here...

Have you ever felt frustrated when a tool or product fails you repeatedly?

It’s meant to simplify your life, but instead, it complicates things and adds unnecessary waste.

I’ve been there. My high-tech coffee maker, touted to meet all my caffeine needs, broke down twice in five months.

The complexity was its downfall—too many parts, too much that could go wrong.

I believe in the “do one thing and do it well” philosophy (learn more).

Simple, focused, single-purpose tools and solutions are powerful. Essential, really.

Simplicity Brings Clarity

Frustrated with my coffee maker, I switched to a basic, no-tech model. No bells and whistles—just a reliable machine that brews perfect coffee every time.

In a world obsessed with more—more features, more options, more complexity—often, less is truly more.

As a product creator, it’s tempting to add extra features or unique twists, but resisting that urge leads to better, more reliable products.

Specialize and Excel

Focus on creating products that excel in one area. The best tools and products aren’t jack-of-all-trades; they master a single function exceptionally well.

Questions to Help You Focus:

Specialization and clarity are what make a product stand out and serve its users effectively.

It takes courage to say, “This does X, and nothing more,” but that’s where true excellence lies.

Ask Yourself:

Embrace focus and specialization. Your work will be more impactful, and your users will appreciate the clarity and reliability.

Relentless Focus on ONE Working Strategy

Too many of us fall into the trap of bouncing from one shiny object to the next—social media today, webinars tomorrow, books, courses, podcasts… and before you know it, we’re spinning our wheels without real progress.

Not this year.

Here’s the strategy I’m committing to for 2025 and beyond, and I encourage you to do the same:

Choose ONE Strategy and STICK to It.

Avoid trying to do everything. Pick ONE primary lead-generation strategy that aligns with your goals and double, triple, quadruple down on it.

Master it, commit to it, and give it time—this means not weeks, but the entire year, and possibly beyond.

Make It Matter

Choosing a simple coffee maker wasn’t just about ease—it was a strategic decision to focus on what matters most.

Greatness comes from focusing on:

  1. A specific target group.
  2. A specific problem.
  3. A specific solution.

Actionable Steps to Apply Focus:

  1. Identify Your Target Group

    Clearly define who your product is for. Understand their needs and preferences deeply.

    Questions to consider:

    • Who do you enjoy working with the most?
    • Who can benefit the most from your expertise?
    • What groups of people naturally gravitate toward you for advice or help?
  2. Pinpoint the Main Problem

    Focus on solving one core issue that your target group faces.

    Questions to explore:

    • What problems frustrate your audience the most?
    • Which of these problems do you feel most equipped to solve?
    • Are there problems that align with your skills and passion?
  3. Create a Specific Solution

    Develop a solution that addresses the problem directly and effectively without unnecessary features.

    Reflection questions:

    • What’s the simplest, most effective way to solve this problem?
    • How can your solution stand out through clarity and ease of use?
    • What would make your audience say, “This is exactly what I needed”?

Think of your work like my no-frills coffee maker. It may not have all the extras, but it excels at its primary function.

That’s the key to creating products and solutions that truly matter.

What’s Your One Focus?

Let’s eliminate the unnecessary and focus on what makes a real difference.

Final Reflection:

Best,
Tim

P.S. Want to build a lead generation system that’s very simple, extremely reliable, and highly effective?

Check out my new book, "The Automatic Lead Machine", here.

You'll learn how to create a truly scalable, asset-based lead generation system that operates smoothly, delivering high-quality leads consistently without the complexity.