Brick by brick: the art of focus and consistency

Geoffrey Holsbeek, a seasoned entrepreneur and startup coach, shares his most valuable advice - wisdom honed from years of founding and guiding startups. Geoffrey has been at the helm of multiple ventures and now channels his expertise into coaching the next generation of founders. His key message? Focus and consistency are the cornerstones of success.

The power of focus

Many startups falter not because of a lack of ambition, but because they spread themselves too thin. Geoffrey stresses the importance of defining a clear mission and measurable milestones to channel energy into actions that matter. "Ask yourself, what does success look like in 10 years? Then, align everything you do with that vision. It’s not a sprint - it’s a marathon."

Startups thrive on ambition, but unbridled ambition can lead to chaos. Geoffrey explains, "You can just stick to a clear goal and make consistent progress in that direction. Otherwise, you’re just advancing in an unclear way, not knowing why or where you’re going." This clarity ensures that every action ties back to the overarching mission, creating a deliberate journey toward success.

Consistency is key

Building a startup is not about quick wins or overnight success - it’s about sustained effort. Geoffrey shares an anecdote about a personal project to illustrate this: “A few years ago, I thought I needed a full week to finish a building project at home, but I never had that week. So I worked on it two to three hours each weekend. After three or four months, it was done, and done well.”

This principle applies to startups too: break large goals into manageable steps and consistently chip away at them. “Put your bricks down one at a time. Try to put the right ones, and eventually, you’ll build your cathedral” he advises.

Align actions with vision

Every action a startup takes should be intentional and aligned with its long-term goals. Geoffrey highlights that this alignment prevents wasted effort and promotes efficiency. Reflecting on his own journey, he notes, “We’ve structured our actions around our 10-year vision. This approach ensures we’re not sprinting aimlessly but running a focused marathon.”

Conclusion

Success in the startup world comes down to maintaining focus, practicing consistency and aligning daily actions with a long-term vision. As Geoffrey reminds us, building something meaningful takes time and persistence. Define your mission, break your goals into achievable steps and stay the course. One brick at a time, your startup can grow into something remarkable.

So, what’s your 10-year goal? And what do you need to have accomplished in two years to get there? And most importantly - what should you start (or stop) doing today?

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