Dan W Bliss

Are you focused?

Many people have told me that I am very focused.  When people say this, they typically mean that I concentrate well on the immediate task at hand.  While this is generally true, there are two entirely different types of focus that are equally, if not more, important for business success.

I like to think of focus as having three distinct levels.  Skill in all three areas can allow you to become extremely effective.  Deficiency in just one can be quite detrimental.

The 3 levels of focus are:

Task
In today’s technology age, focusing on a task has become increasingly more difficult.  Cell phones, emails, text messages and tweets are major distractions that can destroy momentum.  Time management experts might classify these interruptions as things that are seemingly urgent, but unimportant.  For some reason, we all feel the urge to take calls and reply to messages as they come in.

Most people are very capable of focusing on a specific task once they get started on it.  The biggest problem is sticking to it without distraction.

To overcome this, turn off your phone and avoid your email.  Block off periods of time where you can work on your immediate project without interruption.  If it helps you to listen to music or a TV in the background, that’s fine.  You’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve.

Vision
To achieve most goals, you must have a singular vision.  Set a clear goal and create a defined plan for achieving it.

Many entrepreneurs have so many responsibilities, and are pulled in so many directions, that it’s difficult to stay on track.  Plus, there are many temptations that lure entrepreneurs into non-core projects.

It’s up to you to be disciplined.  Stick to the plan.  Yes, it’s OK to brainstorm on crazy ideas for achieving your goals, but you must always remain true to the overall vision.

Emotion
This is an area of focus that people don’t often consider.  Struggling with the other types of focus might slow you down by making you less efficient, but your emotional focus can break your business.

It is imperative that you maintain the enthusiasm and attitude necessary to achieve your goals.  Building a business is damn hard work, and it can be trying at times.  You will be tested monthly, weekly and even daily.  Your full commitment to your business is the key to its survival and prosperity.

I recently took a half-day for personal time to reflect and rejuvenate.  I find that doing this from time-to-time allows me to appreciate the big picture and maintain my emotional focus.

Amid the chaos of running a business, take a step back to assess your focus on all three levels.  If you can master your focus, your goals will become easier to see.

Hurry up and get it done!

Deadlines are empowering… even if you create the deadlines for yourself.

Ever notice how much energy you have when you are racing to beat a deadline?  Think about all the deadline scenarios you face on a regular basis:
- Preparing last-minute for a big business meeting
- Setting up for an important event
- Designing an ad for a publication deadline
- Getting dressed for dinner reservations or a movie
- Racing to a store before it closes
- Running to grab a ringing phone

Can you imagine your heart pounding as you try to beat the clock in all of these situations?  How can you apply this energy in a productive way to accomplish your goals?  There are several ways:

1. Don’t just set goals, set deadlines for those goals. For big goals, break them down into smaller pieces. (This is basic goal-setting 101 stuff, but you should really do it.)
2. Set a meeting with a friend or partner with an obligation to complete your goal in time for the meeting.
3. If you really want to get something done, schedule a meeting with a potential business partner or investor. Nothing is more motivating than this! Even if you are nowhere near ready, this might be the stimulus you need to get the job done.

In order to meet your deadlines, enlist friends and associates for help. Get them involved as early as possible is you want it done right.

One more tip, and I’m speaking from experience, GET SOME SLEEP. If you spend so much time cramming to get a project or presentation ready, then arrive at a meeting groggy, you won’t be in the condition to deliver effectively.

I am excellent at meeting deadlines, and I bet you are too. For some reason people are programmed to focus much more intently as deadlines approach. I’m a big fan of deadlines for exactly that reason.

As usual, I completed this article just in time to make it into our weekly newsletter. Whew!