The Motivational Minute

FOCUS - The Key To Peak Productivity

Ask any Olympic athlete what they feel are the most important qualities a champion must have and, inevitably, FOCUS will come to the top. Of course it is necessary to have perseverance, commitment and a strong work ethic but the factor that brings all of these things together is focus. How focused are you in your day to day life? Do you let your mind wander aimlessly through the day or do you really focus in on your daily goals for your personal and professional success?

When working on a presentation or writing workbooks or articles, I have found that the more focused my mind is, the more things get done - and quickly. When I start letting the inevitable distractions of the day take away my focus, my productivity falls. This is when I or you or anyone can start to feel overwhelmed. When you allow yourself to think of the thirty-five tasks you have to do instead of focusing on just one, you simply cannot get anything done. Your mind is like a mirror ball going in a hundred different directions except for in the direction you want and need it to go. This is when you need to stop and mentally make a firm choice to just focus on one thing at a time.

Get More Done With Less By Controlling Your Time

Of course with client, peer and management issues and the telephone ringing, staying focused on your job is no easy task. Yet, in many circumstances you do have a large degree of control over where your time is used. When you can get one task completed and done right you can feel comfortable about moving on to the next item on the schedule. Before you know it, by the end of your work day you have actually been productive. When you are productive you can alleviate a large percentage of the stress you have to deal with in your career. Daily issues will not seem as looming if you can organize yourself for focused work. It is possible for your career to prosper while you still maintain a proper balance in your life.

Especially with the fast-pace of our society, you must be focused to be successful. Focus is the key to being able to bounce back more readily from setbacks - whether they be at your workplace or in your personal life. Focus allows you to be more committed to your goals because it helps you to make and see progress. The power of focus contributes to a strong work ethic because it makes you feel good about what you have been able to accomplish. If you can learn to work quality time instead of just quantity time you will feel better about your career responsibilities. Focus on what you are doing when you are present at your job. So, when you are at home you do not have to constantly worry about what is going on at the office.

Keep A Positive Vision In Mind

Statistics say that in an eight hour work day, American workers are interrupted an average of 73 times a day. You have to discipline yourself to stay, as my ninth grade Algebra teacher used to say, ON TASK. When you can focus better you will feel better. When you feel better you are more productive; and when you are more productive you are happier with all aspects of your life.

Henry David Thoreau said,"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." Whatever your dreams are for your career and for your personal development, they can only be accomplished with a true sense of focus. If you lack focus, then you might be allowing life to pull you through your days with an uninspired sense of duty. Be passionate about your career and your life in general.

Those Who Fail To Prepare, Prepare to Fail

Life tends to be a series of moving two steps forward and one step back. There will always be challenges to face no matter what stage of development or success your career is currently experiencing. Learn to focus on expecting the best but always be prepared for the possibility of the worst. This keeps you positive, enthusiastic and emotionally prepared for anything life can throw your way. For your work life to be the best it can be, you have to be the focused best you can be. Your life should be consistently moving forward in terms of your learning, growth and experiences. Albert Einstein said, "The level of thinking that got you to this point in your life cannot possibly be the same level of thinking that will get you to the next point in your life."

Expect to Grow

Practice welcoming change in your everyday experience. This allows you to have the mindset of always moving forward. Understand that change is a part of life that will not go away in our age of information. Learning to adapt, overcome and move in the direction of your dreams will keep your mind fresh, heart strong and spirit energized. When you feel unsure of yourself or your future, remember what T.S. Elliot said, "You never know how far you can go until you can risk going too far." May your day be filled with inspiration and passion! Set your goals for the day, week, month and year and then STAY FOCUSED!

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