I've previously posted that if you try to be everything to everyone you'll end up being nothing to anyone.

When the market was a feast of opportunities, that approach didn't necessarily hurt you. It was easy to lose focus, grab or chase every piece of business that came your way, and still do reasonably well. That's not a good approach for the long haul.

Years ago I used to pursue nearly every good idea I had - and I had a lot of them. My business expanded rapidly. I hired dozens of people I soon came to dislike. I was working insane hours. I wasn't making very much money, and needed to focus my way out of the situation.

I asked myself what there was about my business that generated the profits that enabled me to pursue my great but money-losing ideas. Once I determined what that was, I began winding down the rest of the business, and firing everyone who wasn't a part of what was profitable. I promised myself I'd go at least two years without having a good new idea (or at least without pursuing one).

My head count quickly went from the mid-30s to five people I liked and enjoyed working with. Within a year my income increased tenfold, and it was fun to go to work again. I was doing only one thing, but doing it well.

Focusing your business takes time and discipline. You have to start one small piece at a time.

If you're going to start using Flickr, determine what your long-term business niche / focus is before opening your account.

A focus is, by definition, narrow and something your mind can encompass. Planning to farm a 10,000 home community is not a focus.

Every aspect of what you do on Flickr should reflect and reinforce that focus.

The topic of the next post in this series will be Getting started with Flickr.