The Keys to Getting and Staying Focused
Getting, and staying, focused is one of the Essential Keys to Success.
GETTING focused begins with having a strong sense of purpose (for your life in general, for your business, and for each project you wish to undertake) upon which you can build a clear powerful Vision of what your life (and others’) will be like when you’ve achieved your most compelling dream. Only when you are inspired and motivated to have the benefits that you’ll experience when you’ve attained your Vision is it possible to set the series of Goals that will get you there, and determine the Tasks necessary to accomplish each Goal.
Yet because without outside influence, habit trumps desire every time, inspiration and motivation alone are, on their own, not sufficient to get you started. You must apply the force of your indomitable Will to change an existing habit.
Which begins with the first of only three Keys to Getting and Staying Focused:
SCHEDULE TIME for the tasks that you’ve determined are essential to achieving your dreams.
Open your calendar, and commit specific times as often as necessary to each task.
The second key to getting and staying focused is: GET STARTED
It’s so easy to become distracted. Any little – or big – thing can become an excuse for not getting started, even on something you’re inspired and motivated to do, and about which you have the best of intentions.
It’s essential to get over the inertia of inaction, and the only way to do that is to simply get started. You’ve scheduled time. Now all that you need to do is begin focusing on the tasks you’ve scheduled when you’ve scheduled them.
Just taking the first step provides the initial movement that results in increased momentum. A rocket launched from Earth uses more than 80% of it’s fuel during take-off. Once beyond the pull of gravity (the force that holds it back), however, very little energy is needed to keep it in motion.
You are the same. Devote yourself to getting started, and let momentum keep you moving forward in a focused manner.
The third key to getting and staying focused is: ELIMINATE ALL DISTRACTIONS.
Which means eliminate ALL distractions. No television. No ringing telephones of any kind. If you work at home, no interruptions by spouses and kids during your scheduled times.
Perhaps you will argue that you work better with the TV or radio on, or listening to your favorite rock and roll music. To the best of my knowledge, the mind can focus on only one thing at a time in each and every moment. So although you may have convinced yourself that these things are not distractions – or even that they’re “necessary” – that’s just an illusion. If you’re listening (consciously or subconsciously) to lyrics, in that moment your mind cannot be doing the task at hand.
If you cannot abide by silence – if you’re mind wanders too easily in the presence of quiet – then play only soothing music without lyrics or soothing recordings of nature sounds. It may be necessary to retrain yourself to work without these distractions, and you may find it uncomfortable as you begin to make this transition. But with time, you’ll come to recognize how much more efficient, effective and productive you are when you work without distractions.
It’s really that simple. Just follow the three simple Keys to Getting and Staying Focused, and you’ll be well on your way to succeeding at whatever you desire to achieve.
- – -
Jay Aaron
Strategic Visionary / Visionary Strategist
JayAaron.com
All Contents International Copyright 2009 Jay Aaron. All International Rights Reserved.
The Author grants reprint permission without further inquiry only to those who provide proper Copyright credit and include a link to http://Jay Aaron.com
Tags: Add new tag, getting focused, Goal Setiing, Goal-Getting, Inspiriation, Personal Success, Professional Success, Purpose, Service, staying focused, Success Actions, Success Principles, Success Qualities, Tasks, Vision
