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# Rabbits, focus & flexibility
- URL: https://katecarruthers.com/rabbits-focus-flexibility/
- Published: 2009-04-05T20:37:53.000Z
- Updated: 2009-04-05T20:37:53.000Z
- Author: Kate Carruthers
- Tags: ideas, business, growthtown, #Migrated-1775015344493, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-04-01 14:49

At [Growthtown](http://startup-australia.wikidot.com/growth-town?ref=katecarruthers.com) last week I gave a brief talk on focus and flexibility and a key idea that came up was that of *rabbits*.

Startups need balance - but it is hard to balance focus on competing needs, lack of resources, maintaining cashflow momentum, while staying flexible to respond to opportunities.

Focus requires discipline, which is not always a popular word these days. In a business context it requires:

- Goals
- Plans
- Strategy & tactics
- Metrics
- Key performance indicators
- Decision making process
- Defined roles & responsibilities

**But you still need to chase rabbits!** Rabbits are: Unplanned business opportunities that you chase as & when they arise to maintain cash flow momentum.

**But there's a problem with rabbits!** Unplanned business opportunities can distract you from focusing on your defined business goals & strategy.

The challenge is: How to balance pursuit of opportunistic business without losing focus on your business goals?

Part of the solution is an effective business plan. Because if you don’t have a plan then you can’t assess when to chase rabbits, and you also don’t know which rabbits are ***not worth chasing***.

[![Image courtesy of <a href=](https://katecarruthers6748.live-website.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/notcrushingthebunny1.jpg "not crushing the bunny firstdogonmoon")](http://www.firstdogonthemoon.com/Home.html?ref=katecarruthers.com)

Image courtesy of [@firstdogonmoon](http://twitter.com/firstdogonmoon?ref=katecarruthers.com)

Some of the basics that need to be in place to allow a business to focus are:

- Predetermine rules for decision making - input rights v. decision making rights
- Understand key metrics driving the business
- Track progress against goals
- Refocus based on results

Some other important elements that enable flexibility:

- Role clarity is key! - Who does what & when
- Values etc must align with the set goals
- Communication is important - What information must be shared & what information is private

Above all flexibility is based on discipline. Yoga is a best example of this principle. Focused practice of the basic principles mean that after a time yoga adherents are highly flexible, even more important they are strong. And that is what we want for our businesses.