Discipline is enhanced when you follow a business plan, your roadmap for success. If you don't have a business plan, create one. Build your goals, objectives and tactics into an annual plan and then break down the larger document into a weekly plan. (Credit: Andrey Apoev/Adobe Stock)

Small businesses and independent entrepreneurs face unique challenges compared to their larger counterparts because they're stretched much thinner with smaller staffs, fewer resources and less time to get the job done. They sometimes even work more than one job while their company gets off the ground.

Join our LinkedIn group, ALM's Small Business Adviser, a space where small business owners can gather to network, have discussions and keep up with the trends and issues affecting their industries.

In many cases, owners must do everything from lead generation and sales, managing finances and strategic planning. This often leaves owners fighting the cyclical income path of constant peaks and valleys, which happens when owners spend the bulk of their time on lead generation, focusing on sales and then handling all the associated administrative tasks.

During this process, they lose sight of building and maintaining a robust sales pipeline. A pivotal hump for business owners is to get to the point where you can hire staff to handle admin tasks to allow you to focus on incoming-producing activities.

Having faced these challenges as a small business owner, I can relate. I utilize tried-and-true strategies that keep me focused on what really matters – driving the business forward and focusing 60% or more of my day on income-producing activities only. To grow your business with a laser focus, I recommend the following easy-to-implement ideas.

Go back to the basics

What exactly are you, and by extension, your business, trying to accomplish?  What are your goals?  What are you out here fighting for? Answer this question and you've found your focus. At the beginning or if you find yourself in a funk, this is where you should prioritize your time.