Focus
A simple title for a simple concept. Focus.
Figure out what it is that you want to do and put mostly everything else on the backburner until you’ve developed stability in that area. When I say mostly, I mean nothing that is important to the survival of the human lives that depend on you. Everything else, is shut out.
If you want the secret to success, there’s an important part of it. The other parts include getting your mind right, setting goals, and (ofcourse) acting upon all of these things. If you aren’t focused, however, you’re doomed for eventual failure.
You might ask, “Well, what about multitasking?”. To that I ask which sounds smarter both in theory and in application. Doing everything at once or focusing and completing one thing at a time. Which do you see yourself getting the most out of?
If a business partner calls you and another one emails you (about two completely different subjects) while you’re trying to complete an assignment, would it be wise to attempt to take on all of those tasks simultaneously? If their contacting you for anything important, its in your best interest to lend your attention to each of them at separate times in order to get as much value as you possibly can. You’re either going to complete the assignment beforehand, or you’re going to stop for a moment to focus on one of the communications.
So why then, would you try to multitask something that defines your success in life?
Focus, to the best of your ability, on the things that matter to your ultimate success. If you have various different thoughts on different subjects lingering in your mind that constantly override the goals that you’ve set and prevent instrumental action from being taken, you’re lacking in focus (obviously).
So how do you find focus?
First, identify what it is that you want. Whether it be personal development, monetary success, learning more about other people, whatever. After you identify exactly what you want, allocate a specific amount of time, and within that time frame, engulf yourself in it. Surround yourself with things that relate to what it is that you want to accomplish. (Time management and routines are two things that I will discuss in later posts)
Buy some physical books on the subject and read them front to back. Find tv shows and movies that relate and are interesting to watch. Rather than just noticing things that you normally wouldn’t, you’ll actively help yourself become more knowledgeable which will ultimately get you where you want to be.
Youtube can be useful if you allow it to be also. Watch videos that correspond to the subject. If you want to learn to become a programmer, check out some youtube videos on programming; A photoshop expert, same thing.
Surround yourself with the topic and enrich your knowledge until you feel as though you’ve learned all that you’ve wanted to know. And then move on to a new interest, while periodically updating yourself on the old (when you want).
Think about this for a moment. If you spend half an hour a day studying any topic, you’ll be an expert on it within a year. It only takes half an hour of your daily time to train towards expertise.
When I first learned that, it made me want to spend more than half an hour per day learning more about my interests. Why try to meet a standard when you can try to exceed it?
All it comes down to is the ability to focus. So when you’ve got a million and one people or thoughts at war with your time, take a step back to remember what your purpose is and what your goals are. Then, focus.