As business professional, you know the importance of focus and how it directly affects your success, for better or worse. This is most evident when applied to your goals; the more focused you are, the more precise your actions can be, getting you closer to your goals – faster. But did you know there are different levels of focus? The level which you are focused on will determine where you’re going. So, the question is – do you know where your focus is taking you?
While I suggest that focusing on a single task at any one time is ideal, I’m about to introduce an exception to that rule. The exception applies to the focus you place upon your short-term and long-term goals.
There are different levels of focus, they are: Current, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly and Life. Unfortunately, when it comes to goals, having too much focus on short-term goals can cause short-sightedness. Focusing only on your short-term goals means that your yearly or life goals may never get the focus they deserve.
Let’s explore the different levels of focus.
Immediate Focus: The most basic form of focus, and the goals that are immediately in play. In the moment focus is useful for getting from Step A to Step B, B to C, and so on. As an entrepreneur, this is an important tool to use when completing complex tasks that must be broken down into smaller pieces.
Daily Focus: The goals for the day. These goals range from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed and could be personal and/or professional achievements. Your daily focus should support your monthly focus. Try to have at least one powerful daily focus each day – something that will visibly and immediately have a positive impact.
Monthly Focus: The short-term goals for the month. These should always support other short-term goals (six months, yearly), as well as long-term goals. Choose one powerful monthly focus for each month of the year and be sure your daily focus supports monthly achievements.
Yearly Focus: The goals to be achieved within one calendar year. Your yearly focus should contain somewhat achievable and stretch goals, as well as stepping stones to long-term goals and your overall purpose in life.
Overall Life Focus: This is more about overall purpose in life – the big picture. This is about focusing on who you want to be, what you want to experience, and your core values. To achieve all the goals you have set for yourself, you must use all levels of focus. The reason being, each step you take, however small, directly affects your ability to achieve your life goals. When you are consciously aware of all levels of focus, you can determine which steps will support your goals and avoid the steps that do not.
Before you apply this information to your life, take some time to write down your goals. Start with your life focus and then work backwards, including each level of focus until you reach the daily focus. You want to start with your life focus so you can start with the big picture. From there, you can break down your focus into yearly, monthly and then daily goals. Each night before you go to bed, write down your daily focus for the following day. You may want to buy a small notebook or keep a lined tablet in your daily planner, so you always have it on you, even if you’re on the road.
Les Lyons shares a story about focus and the impact it had for him.
“Before I won the World Skeet Shooting Championships in my Class in 2004, I was struggling to break all 100 out of 100 clay targets. I could easily get in the 90s, and usually around 97 or 98, but those last one or two just eluded me.
I worked with an instructor who told me I had to have the proper focus in several areas, starting with my stance. Were my feet correctly positioned? Was my body correctly positioned and weighted properly between my two feet? Was my upper body turned properly? Was I holding the gun properly?
Next, he had me focus on my breathing. Could I feel my breath going in and out? Was it steady? Was it natural? Was it deep, or shallow? Was I holding my breath unconsciously?
Then, he had me focus on my vision. Was I looking at the background, to distinguish my proper hold point? Did I know the background well, so I wouldn’t be distracted by anything when I called for the target?
Then he told me to focus my mind. Only focus on the present and what is happening right now. Not what just happened a few minutes ago on the last target, or the results from the day before, or what MIGHT happen in a minute when I called for the target, or what might happen in the future, if I succeeded or failed. ONLY focus on RIGHT NOW! Be “in the moment,” he said.
Finally, he told me to focus on the target, or “bird” as we call it. And he said, “I mean REALLY focus! See the target clearly.” I told him I did. He then asked, “Can you see the rings on the different levels of the round target spinning as the bird comes out of the house?” I looked at him like he was crazy! I said, “HUH?” He said, “Yep. THAT’s the kind of focus you have to have. When you can clearly distinguish the rings on the spinning target, THEN you know you are focused!”
Guess what? I put into practice everything he said, and then broke 249 out of the 250 target competition and won the World Championship. (Yes, I let my guard down for a brief instant and it cost me a target. But my competitors did it more than that one time!)
So, what I learned is there is focus, and then there’s FOCUS!!! And focus has to be – in most cases – in more than one area at a time, to ensure that everything is “in sync.””
To help you get started, go to /coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ and complete your personal Wheel of Life and Quality of Life Enhancer™ exercises. Update your Quality of Life Enhancer™ exercise on a regular basis and enjoy the benefits. Feel free to share these complimentary exercises (that are under the Free Silver Membership, if you aren’t already a member) with others you think will get value from them.
*Important note: If your goals are in conflict – nothing will be achieved. All short-term goals should support other short-term goals, as well as your long-term goals. Get clear on what you really want to achieve over a lifetime and then break it down into smaller steps that can be achieved yearly, monthly, and daily.
In an effort to encourage you to achieve your goals easier and faster, leave the past where it belongs – in the past. It’s tempting to replay old scenarios that you would change if you had a second chance, but focusing on the past takes away valuable energy that should be used for the present and future. Take the lessons you’ve learned from past experiences and apply them to your success. You can’t change the past so there is no need to dwell on it. Easier said than done and yet good to keep in mind.
Remember, your energy will always go in the direction of your focus, so keep it where you can make some real changes – in the present and future! Focus on what you really want in life and work toward achieving those things so you can fulfill everything you want in life.
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