Question

Dear Mr. LaMagna, My name is Michael Kunkel. I have thus far conducted my life in a relatively conventional way regarding college and a career. After many years of part-time college and full-time work, I have gone as high as an engineer as I really want to. My heart is not in it, though I admire those who are focused on such things. However, I have come to a crossroad in my life and realized this isn't me. I have been working very diligently on learning what to do to change my life, and something wonderful I learned is meditation. I have always had a great deal of faith, and this new way (for me) to tap into the endless energy around me has led me to you. I was recently on a business trip to Warner Robins, GA when I ran into a very pleasant woman named Sharon Dilorenzo from Dayton, OH. She and I were talking about politics, business, and life in general when she told me that you went to school with her husband. I was relating to her the fact that I have had many ideas in my head for inventions and businesses, and she mentioned that I should get in touch with you. I have been continuing right now to find the correct amount of focus that I need to apply to various aspects of my life. I have been attempting to focus on just one of my ideas at a time, but I have been having trouble with that, since, as I learn more by pursuing any one of them, I'm inspired again to work on another. I have two things in particular that I am working on, one is a human interface device for all sorts of electronics, and the other is a brand of hot dog sauces. I have many other ideas too, but I'm trying to keep them at bay for now. If I had to ask you one question right now (since there are probably about a million more behind it), I'd like to ask you, should I focus on only one of these things, or continue to follow my heart and pursue both at the same time? I'm really trying to figure out how best to focus my energy. I don't want to spread myself thin, but I don't want to put all of my eggs in one basket. I'm really in great need of casual business advice, as I have not yet found a good mentor. I was wondering if you or someone you know might be able to help me. I know from prior volunteer teaching that the best way to learn is to do. That is what I'm working on now as I overcome my fears. Please let me know if you or someone you know can offer me guidance in my quest to be a far more productive American and in turn help others also to be productive. I do hope you get this message and respond. Thank you greatly for your time. Sincerely, Michael Kunkel

Submitted by Michael Kunkel

Answer

Michael - good thing that you are meditating especially if regularly.  This should help you greatly to focus.  Mediatation if done correctly will help you stop the endless chatter of your mind when you want it to stop.  It will increase your awareness and keep you healthy.  You will always be able to get to sleep.  I've meditated daily (every day around 5PM after the days work) for the past 30 years. 

You do want to focus on one thing.  Did you read my book  Raising Eyebrows A Failed Entrepreneur Finally Gets It Right.  I talk about how it was when I finally focused on one thing - tweezers - that I finally succeeded.  Of course you get lots of ideas. You are an entrepreneur.   What you want to do is channel your ideas on one project. 

My opinion is that a brand of hot dog sauces is not worthy of your time and energy.  The number of people interested in hot dogs is limited while the number of potential people for "a human interace device for all sorts of electronics" seems to be unlimited.  Don't worry about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Doing that makes it easier to carry the eggs.  Look if you idea doesn't start happening once you give it your all you can always move on and try something else.  Doing more than one thing at a time never worked for me. 

I can't be your mentor but I'm happy to answer specific business questions here in this forum which I set up for people like you.