<p>You know what a camel is?&nbsp; It's a horse designed by committee.<br /><br />Basically, you take a well designed concept like the horse, and try to accommodate to many other features into the product.&nbsp; "Lets, have better traction" someone says, "more storage" the boss chimes in, "make it have big teeth and spit".... you get the picture.<br /> <br /> Lately, I have been seeing a lot more camels being created around me.&nbsp; Worse, it's not always a committee doing the work of creating the camel.&nbsp; It's small business people losing their focus in a bad economy.<br /> <br />Take marketing for example.&nbsp; A marketing message should be focused.&nbsp; It should contain one theme, concept or well...message.&nbsp; As the economy has tighten purse strings, businesses are trying to get more from their marketing money by combining multiple messages into a single advertisements.&nbsp; If my primary business message is "management coaching" but I keep crowding the message by also mentioning my part-time pilates training, potential clients are not going to get a clear message about what I am a professional in.<br /><br />This doesn't mean you can't focus on like topics or products in a particular message just make sure your building a better horse, and not assembling a camel..<br /><br />The camel analogy holds true for consultants as well.&nbsp; Many people who start consulting will initially focus on one area where they have the most expertise.&nbsp; As they are unable to make money in that area, they start listing more and more things they can consult in on their business card.&nbsp; After awhile, they have become a career camel.&nbsp; It may help early in your career to make money, but, it stymies your rise into the ranks of being an expert in any field.<br /><br />Instead of creating a "camel career" focus on your expertise.&nbsp; Spend time learning and becoming good at related topics.&nbsp; Stay focused on becoming a Thoroughbred at what you do.&nbsp; It doesn't mean you can't do those other non-related jobs when they come up. Your just not going to promote yourself in all of those fields.<br /><br />Before I started working for Whatcom Community College, I had a computer business.&nbsp; When it started, I turned it into the biggest camel you have ever seen.&nbsp; My expertise and my passion is training. Because I was pretty good with all aspects of computers, withing a few years of starting my business I was building machines, creating networks, running QuickBooks for small businesses, and creating websites.&nbsp; I actually spent very little time doing what I loved. As I got out of hardware and networking I was able to re-focus on training and people, dramatically improving my expertise as a trainer and workshop developer.&nbsp; I turned the camel back into a horse. <br /><br />There are many other areas of business where "camel" warning signs should be posted.&nbsp; Small retail boutiques selling dollar store items next to their expensive apparel just say your desperate to make a buck. Selling anything "green" without really understanding sustainability or the implications.&nbsp; Businesses that "can get you anything you want" instead of focusing on the best value products or selling products they trust.&nbsp; These businesses are just adding randomly to what they sell without thought to their business plan, customers or goals.&nbsp; They are on their way to becoming camel businesses.<br /><br />So remember, it doesn't matter what your expertise is, the product you sell, or the project your working on.&nbsp; Keep it focused, have a plan, and stick to the plan or your Equine may end up a Dromedary.</p> 2009-07-09T22:48:57Z -5.41991 228 5422 true 5 28412 resist-the-urge-to-create-more-camels 4 2009-07-13T07:18:34Z 2009-07-13T14:18:58Z

You know what a camel is? It's a horse designed by committee. Take a well designed concept like the horse, and accommodate many other features into the business or product. Lately, There's been a lot more camels around.

1 2009-07-13T14:18:58Z