Are you happy with your performance this year? How successful were you in reaching the goals you set for your business and for yourself?  If you didn’t see the progress you hoped for you might have a common challenge many ambitious, goal-oriented people have; a lack of focus. Look at it from another angle and the challenge might be trying to do it all - or trying to be all things to all people. It all boils down to a lack of focus.  “I’m focused!” you say.  But, are you really?  How many goals did you set for yourself? If it was over 10, it was too many. 

In fact, Dale Carnegie in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People suggests that the first critical step is to write down all your goals.  The second step is to narrow the list down to a single one.  A single one!

Depending on whether you’re setting a personal goal or business, limiting yourself to one, single goal may or may not work for you.  The point is that it is important to FOCUS. The more narrow a range of focus, the better your success. Just like the advice from marketing experts; the more narrowly you can define your target market, the better your marketing results. It's the same concept.

Why is this? Because, each goal you set competes with the other goals for your time and attention. For example, consider the following goals:

·             Increase income 20%

·             Be featured in 3 art exhibitions

·             Learn to speak Spanish

·             Lose 15 pounds

·             Remodel the kitchen

·             Become a black-belt

When you’re taking Spanish lessons, you’re not practicing martial arts. When you’re putting together your art work for the exhibition and making contacts with galleries, you’re not focusing on how you can increase your income.  Yes, I know – balance is important.  I’m just pointing out the facts. 

When you set goals it’s important to see the time requirement of achieving the results you want.  There are only so many hours in a day (that would be 24) and so many days in a year (that would be 365). People tell me there are just not enough hours in a day to get things done.

Well, I can show you a quick and simple way to find 1 or 2 extra hours a day. Turn the television off! It is the exception rather than the rule to find anything worthwhile airing. The quality of the programming is an insult; the value to one’s life is … well it isn’t; and the news programs are depressing, disheartening and divisive.

Instead of watching television, use that time and energy to focus on your key goal(s).  Read a book.  Make a plan.  Share your vision with your partner.  If you’re willing to do this – and then DO IT – you will have a much higher rate of success.

Take control of your life.  Be BOLD.  It all starts with a vision.  ...and FOCUS.


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