What gets your FOCUS gets YOU!
on Monday, December 13, 2010
Big dreams whisper your name. The motivation to make a difference drives you. You want to make a significant contribution…starting with your world, your checkbook, your relationships. Closing the gap between your dream and your current reality consumes your thoughts but this focus on current and future may leave you feeling a little schizophrenic.
You keep hearing the message of success is FOCUS. Inside you cry “I am focused!” but suspect you aren’t focused enough on the right things. This short post is to give you some clues and keys to find the focus on the “right” things for you.
Let’s start with what is truly getting your attention. While you may THINK you’ve been focusing on one thing, there are some tell tale signs that reveal the truth. (I am writing this looking in the mirror so don’t think I am trying to cast stones! I am applying this process to my own business practice too.)
Time tells…
- Check your calendar. It is the representation of what we value AND how we plan our time.
- Are you blocking time for
- Administrative, Planning, Professional Development
- Business Development (Sales & Marketing), and
- Client Delivery and Customer Service?
- Are you blocking time for
- Reflection: Let your calendar give you the feedback you need to better plan your schedule. What needs to change so you can block time intentionally to achieve your big hairy audacious goals?
Follow the money…
- Check your register. Where are you investing your financial resources? And just as important, where are you not investing?
- We all have a money story? What is yours? Your money trail will reveal your thoughts and discipline.
- Reflection: Let your register give you the feedback you need to allocate your financial resources and direct your calendar of activities. What needs to change so you can intentionally invest in those things and people that will help you achieve your big hairy audacious goals?
Thoughts and people matter…..
- Check your mental energy. Notice the thoughts and people who leave you feeling empowered or disempowered.
- Who you hang out with matters! This includes who you follow, associate with and measure yourself against.
- Reflection: As you evaluate the past year consider where you spend most of your mental energy. Consider also the associations and relationships that forward you or held you back. What needs to change so you can intentionally invest in people and activities that keep your mental energy focused on your big, hairy audacious goals?
Personal Discoveries
My business grew in 2010 by about 20%. As I spent time earlier this month with one of my mentors, one of his comments “What gets your attention, get’s you” stopped me in my tracks. I think I am pretty focused but….am I as focused as I need to be to reach my own big hairy audacious goals? Hmmmm…this made me ask myself the questions that I am sharing with you. As usual, in my effort to be transparent, I am happy to share my personal discoveries:
- My calendar has not been as intentional as in my earlier years of business development. What changed? I found over time I was less clear about my big goals. My fall back was to keep focused on the short term. This did move me forward incrementally but not exponentially. My new focus is on calendar control, time blocking, and metrics to measure my time return on investment.
- My investments in people, projects, and technology were not measured against my long term goal nor did they have appropriate systems to ensure alignment and management tools. New focus is on building a team of like minded people who are experts in their fields and systems for managing and tracking progress.
- My thoughts and associations ARE working for me. They challenge me while gracefully allowing me to grow in the process.
As you reflect on this past year and follow the trail that truly reflects your focus I suggest you turn off the voice of excuses or blame and take this opportunity as a chance to make some fresh choices. You can do so based on objective observations so you can “focus” on what matters most. This is your year if you choose to make it so! Opportunity awaits.
------------------To your success!
Kathie Nelson
http://www.KathieNelson.com