Today I want to talk about focus. If you haven’t read the post on keys to success, I listed focus as the second key to success.Focus has to be one of the hardest things there is. It’s something we have to train ourselves to do. And many times throughout the day we find ourselves losing focus.
Does your work time “self-talk” ever go like this?
“Okay, I have to focus on getting this article written. Well, first I think I’ll check my email. It may be something important.”
Fifteen minutes later…
“Okay, back to work. I have to write this article. Oh wait, I should check Twitter and Facebook and get those out of the way so it doesn’t distract me by thinking about them.”
Another fifteen minutes later…
“I’m really going to focus now. I have to get this done. But first…” (fill in the blank)
You see the pattern here? Those quick checks often take 15 minute chunks of our time. We are all guilty of this at times.
As I mentioned in the main article, Bob Proctor describes focus as “conscious intensity.” Conscious simply means “fully aware.” Intensity is defined as:
1. the quality or state of being intense; especially : extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling
2. the magnitude of a quantity (as force or energy) per unit (as of area, charge, mass, or time)
Basically, it’s being fully aware of the magnitude of energy you are using to work on a project.
To focus intently on something, you must be fully aware, be in the here and now and know what it is you want to accomplish. Your mind must be “fixed” on the situation or task and you have to put all your energy into it.
Focus can be extremely difficult. I’ll be honest; it’s one of my biggest issues. I have “shiny object syndrome” just as much as the next guy or gal. I have discovered things that help me stay focused. I’ve mentioned them in other posts, but they are real treasures and worth mentioning again
