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The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he or she is going.
–David Starr Jordan, Scholar, Educator
Few men during their lifetime come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.
–Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Polar Explorer
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
–John F. Kennedy
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Focus doesn’t really come naturally to most people yet it is essential if you want to make the most of your talents. Activity without focus never gets anywhere because it bounces all over the place. If you focus your talents as precisely as possible, that’s when you can really go places.
In most cases, success is not a one-time event. Instead, it is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. And any time you participate in a process, time is required. This is where focus comes in. If you’re not focused on achieving something, you’ll end up doing lots of little things that are nice but don’t really add up to the achievements you crave.
With this in mind, there are a few things you should do to make focus your friend:
Be intentional in what you do: or in other words make every action count for something. Determine where you want to go, how to get there and then stay on that path. Don’t aimlessly drift from one thing to another. Have purpose and direction.
Directly confront your excuses: and challenge them to prove their validity. Most people that achieve greatness do so regardless of all their reasons for not doing what they ought to. Don’t let little things get you off track.
Don’t let yesterday hijack your attention: and stop you from getting things done today. Strive to achieve today. Strive to achieve today rather mulling over the disappointments of the past.
Focus on the present moment: and fill your hours with the things that move you forward. If you concentrate on being productive today, tomorrow will take care of itself.
Stay focused on the results you’re achieving: rather than being worried about the difficulties you face. This with keep you motivated rather than depressed.
Develop some priorities: and follow your highest priority item at the expense of everything else. You have to concentrate on what will generate the greatest results in order to achieve anything truly meaningful.
Focus on using your personal strengths: rather than worrying about your weaknesses. You’ll always achieve far more by taking full advantage of what you do best than you ever will trying to fix what’s wrong or where you feel weak.
Get into the habit of delaying your rewards until the job is done: because this will serve to enhance your focus. Have a pay-now-and-play-later approach to your life.
To move the world, we must first move ourselves.
–Socrates
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