“So what are your plans for next year?”, I asked a student the other day. He looked down, sighed, looked back up and said “Well, I’m going to work on a book, finish my real estate education, keep attending your teleclasses, work on my marketing plan, and – “
…I’d heard it a hundred thousand times, mostly from the creative, attention deficit entrepreneurs and small business owners I work with on a regular basis.
“WAIT!” I interrupted. How can you focus on so many things at one time? Multitasking without a common reason is NOT the answer.” “Oh, but I’m a really good multitasker!” he replied. I took a deep breath. If he was such a great multitasker, then why wasn’t he achieving the level of success he wanted?
All successful people know this – FOCUS is the key to success. One thing at a time. One purpose at a time. Finish one and go on to the next. That kind of focus is almost impossible in today’s hectic, information-overloaded world.
Instead, we work ourselves so hard and don’t give ourselves the time or effort it takes to really be successful. So many people get just to the TIP of success and then WHAM! – fall right down the mountain, exhausted, convinced that the principles of success somehow aren’t meant for them.
It’s not fair.
And it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re creative and have multiple irons in the fire, so to speak, multiple projects and things you’re working on – you can gain great momentum and success with those projects IF you follow one simple rule.
Here’s the secret – all of your projects and plans will work well ONLY if you have one overarching reason for doing them. You can do this in a big way by looking at all of your projects and considering “WHY” you do each of them. For me, the practice of communication keeps me excited about talking with people, writing and networking. That’s a big reason why I do certain projects.
Another method that I like to use is a theme-focused approach. You can have a theme for a year, for a month, a day and even for an hour. That keeps you focused tasks that are congruent with the current theme.
For example, if your theme for the year is to increase your income by 50%, then all of your activities better have specific, money-making results. Place your theme word (or words) right there on your desk and look at it every day. If you ever get off track or wonder what to do next, look up at your theme and do what it says.
Simple, and VERY effective for information-overloaded people!
What will your theme be this year? Write it down right now and get going!
Stephanie Frank works with people who want to improve performance and pump up their power to profit. She is the author of the best-selling book, The Accidental Millionaire and founder of The Success IQ University, specializing in peak performance, productivity and leadership coaching and education. For a FREE audio program “The 13 Vital Traits of Super Effective People, go here: http://www.FreeSuccessTrainingAudio.com