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What you focus on expands. Ideally, you want to focus on moving your business forward. Losing focus is all too easy.
We all have a tendency to become side tracked. We may want to complete an important task, yet many distractions poke and prod us away from our goals. How can we keep our focus on the task as hand?
Distractions may be hard to ignore, especially when it’s a chatty coworker, a ringing phone, a demanding spouse (not all that common I’m sure–grin), or many other things. Thankfully, there are some tried and true strategies we can use to put the distractions on hold and place an intense focus on our task.
Try these techniques to develop an intense focus:
1. Remove distractions. You can’t focus if you’re constantly checking your email, Facebook, or other time-stealers! You’ll get more done if you allow your mind to get in the groove with some peace and quiet.
2. Remain committed. You know that you have something you should finish, but are you one hundred percent committed to seeing it through to completion? This is where you need to be honest with yourself.
3. Set a time limit. Even if the task itself doesn’t have a time limit, assign one anyway. If you have a deadline, you’ll be more apt to complete your task in a timely manner.
4. Take frequent breaks. This may sound contradictory, but it actually makes a world of difference for the workaholic. If we work too long at one time, not only do we become physically tired, but our minds tire as well. This makes us more susceptible to distractions and shatters our concentration.
5. Use a list. Lists are wonderful tools that help you accomplish your work quicker and easier. Before beginning, write down everything you need to accomplish and then cross out each task as you complete it.
6. Reward yourself for a job well done. When you’re able to stay focused on an important task, reward yourself! Just keep thinking about the big picture and your reward once you’re finished with the task at hand.
Remember, you’re human, too. Losing your focus is easy in an existence that’s filled with daily distractions and annoyances. However, you’ll find that you can keep an intense focus on something if you practice these techniques. Make them a habit and enjoy your rewards!
Today, I’m going to cross-post a video from TED TV, where Alain de Botton talks about a kinder, gentler definition of success.
In it, he makes several key points that are extremely relevant in the current world’s hype about the Law of Attraction (although he doesn’t call it that) and your current status (are you a winner or a loser). He also talks about how envy and self-esteem fit into the social umbrella of our lives.
He’s articulate and elegant, and every entrepreneur — or anyone pursuing a personal goal of sorts — can benefit from listening to this man.
What do you think of getting a low grade on a report card? Dropping out of school? Getting fired?
This isn’t to brag. It is to show you that while failure may involve negative thoughts and emotions, it can also make you stronger or wiser. I’m willing to bet that you have your own stories of so-called failures that have catapulted you to unexpected successes, whether it be as an entrepreneur or otherwise.
A simple definition of failure is: An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success. Let me emphasis the word “simple.”
When I think of this definition of failure, I’m reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison “failed” at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.
One of Edison’s most famous quotes is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
If you adopt this same attitude, you’ll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.
When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you’ll truly begin to understand the power of failure.
The truth is, you only fail when you give up! When you keep trying until you’ve found the answer or the solution, you’re successful.
You’d never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn’t give up until they found the answer, the right procedure or the right materials to solve their dilemma.
In case those quotes weren’t enough to make you believe failure has a positive power and strength, here are some more you might relate to:
The next time you try your hand at something and don’t achieve the desired result immediately, remember failure is an event; it’s not you.
If you’re trying to please everyone, you can’t possibly succeed!
Just because you’ve failed once, twice or 10,000 times at something, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You only fail when you stop trying.
Still not convinced? How about this:
What do these words mean to you? No matter what you’re trying to succeed at, whether it’s a sport, project, career, invention, or at school, there will be times when you don’t succeed. But you mustn’t let that stop you from reaching your goals, dreams, and desires.
The common thread among all these famous people and their wise words is the same. You can’t have success without failure. Never give up and never stop trying. There is power in failure, you just have to give yourself a chance.
Keep trying, keep failing and soon you’ll find true success!
To your failing forward!
Britt Santowski
The Power of Failure
What do you think when you hear the word failure? You probably are thinking that you’re not good enough and that you should give up.
While failure can involve those thoughts and emotions, failure can also make us stronger or wiser.
A simple definition of failure is: An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
When I think of this definition of failure, I’m reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison “failed” at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.
One of Edison’s most famous quotes is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
If you adopt this same attitude, you’ll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.
Robert Schuller stated these famous words, “Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.”
Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you’ll truly begin to understand the power of failure.
The truth is, you only fail when you give up! When you keep trying until you’ve found the answer or the solution, you’re successful.
You’d never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn’t give up until they found the answer, the right procedure or the right materials to solve their dilemma.
In case those quotes weren’t enough to make you believe failure has a positive power and strength, here are some more you might relate to:
“Failure is an event, never a person.” – William D. Brown
The next time you try your hand at something and don’t achieve the desired result immediately, remember failure is an event; it’s not you.
Bill Cosby also said it well when he said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
If you’re trying to please everyone, you can’t possibly succeed!
“Never confuse a single defeat with final defeat.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
“You can’t have any successes until you can accept failures.” – George Cukor
Just because you’ve failed once, twice or 10,000 times at something, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You only fail when you stop trying.
Still not convinced? How about this:
“You always pass failure on your way to success.” – Mickey Rooney
What do these words mean to you? No matter what you’re trying to succeed at, whether it’s a sport, project, career, invention, or at school, there will be times when you don’t succeed. But you mustn’t let that stop you from reaching your goals, dreams, and desires.
The common thread among all these famous people and their wise words is the same. You can’t have success without failure. Never give up and never stop trying. There is power in failure, you just have to give yourself a chance.
Keep trying, keep failing and soon you’ll find true success!
