One of the key ingredients for success can be summed up with one simple word:
Focus! On what?
That’s easy-one thing at a time. You see, in this fast-paced, “multitask” society we live in, it seems we are judged by how many different things we can do all at one time; yet in reality, we can only do one thing well at any given time.
Imagine being on your computer playing music, checking emails, working on a Word document, Excel worksheet, and PowerPoint presentation, and looking up stuff on the Internet. Your system might move pretty slowly.
Right? Guess what? The same applies to us. We can do things faster and better, if we focus on only one thing at a time.
To illustrate this point even more, I want to share the following example with you.
It’s 4th down, 12 seconds remain on the clock, and your team is down by 3 points. You are the wide receiver in the biggest football game of your life, and are called upon to win the game for the home town crowd. You line up to begin the final play. The ball is snapped and you run down field.
As the ball is heaved down field in your direction, you feel the anticipation of the event which is about to unfold. You envision it all in your head, step-by-step, move-by-move. You know exactly what is going to happen.
You are going to catch the ball, tuck it in close with the outside arm to keep from fumbling. You’ll twist left and then right, throwing the defenders off guard.
As more people run your way, you spin to the side, and dodge one close call after another, while jumping over the opponents like they are nothing more than simple obstacles.
As you soar into the end zone, the gun will explode, ending the game. Your team is victorious.
Your teammates will rush the field and hoist you up on their shoulders. The crowd goes wild, chanting your name in unison.
Later that night, you will be the talk of the town. Everyone wants to have a moment of your time to tell you “great job!” and shake your hand.
This is your time to shine! All the years of training and hard work have paid off. All eyes are on you. You are the person of the hour.
Then BAM!
Your mind brings you back to the moment. You were lost in your imagination. You lost focus and redirected your thoughts and energy toward what could be, rather than what was actually happening at the moment.
Loosing focus, the ball slips through your hands.
The crowd goes silent in disbelief.
The only thing you hear is a voice inside repeating one of the coach’s basic lessons, “Before you can do anything else, you first need to catch the ball. You have to focus on first things first. Until you do that, everything else is pointless.”
Now, let me ask you-are you catching the ball? How many things are you attempting to focus on at once?
Learn to concentrate on one thing, master it, and then move on to another.
Focus may be the missing ingredient in your recipe for success.
Best wishes and whatever you do….. Keep Smilin’
About the Author:
Filmmaker and Motivational Speaker Greg S. Reid is a #1 best-selling author, entrepreneur, and the CEO of several successful corporations, who has dedicated his life to helping others achieve the ultimate fulfillment of finding and living a life of purpose. In addition to being published in over 35 books, he is also the creator and producer on the International acclaimed films Pass It On, and Three Feet From Gold. (Listed on IMDB.com) His unique style has made him a highly sought-after Keynote Speaker for Corporations, Universities and Charitable organizations alike.
In his latest project Three Feet From Gold – Turn your Obstacles into Opportunities (co-authored with Sharon Lechter), Greg had the opportunity to follow in Napoleon’s famous footsteps by sitting down with leaders of the day to discover how they persevered through challenging times. (Oct 2009 release) * Sterling Publishing.
In addition, Greg is also a board member of Executive Books www.executivebooks.com, a printing and Distribution Company which has circulated over 50 million books worldwide and also sits on the board of directors for various mentoring programs that teach youth to use their talents in order to improve their lives.
