The Power of Focus – 5 W’s and the Big H
By Marge Coffing ©
- What
How did you first think of the word focus ….as a noun…as a verb…as an adjective?
Huh?
Indulge me here for a minute, please – the English teacher in me from eons ago is resurfacing briefly…and it’s for a reason which will come clear a little later.
What something is, that’s the “what”, the definition. Let’s use this one for focus:
“ A concentration of attention”
as in… “I believe I can bring you the high degree of focus needed for this job”.
Or…
In focus - in highlight, in a spotlight
as in…”The sports budget will be in focus at tonight’s meeting”.
Consider that “focus” used as a noun is out there somewhere, but it’s not yours.
- or the verb – to concentrate one’s attention
“I really respect the way that George can focus so much”
“If you’re going to beat your competitors, you need to focus”.
“I need to focus on passing the test”.
Consider that “focus” as a verb is bringing it closer to you, where the power is.
- Or think about the power of a focus group – when several people concentrate together and interact on just one topic.
It’s a very useful tool for understanding and perspective.
2. Who
Do you think of what you do, or what someone else does, or the results?
“out of focus” – a microscope or telescope can’t work effectively if the tool is not focused for the person’s eye who is using it.
Consider then that to focus is primarily an individual activity. So let’s focus on just you right now, and on your ability to bring focus to what you do.
3. Why
We’re all equal in the amount of time allotted to us daily, yet why do some people get more accomplished, or work at a higher level?
They’ve learned to Focus. What’s the purpose of focus for you? To Enable yourself, to Empower yourself.
It’s about saving time. It’s about saving energy. It’s about using time effectively.
4. When
Little things…you know yourself – are you a morning person, or an evening person?
Do you need more light to work effectively? Or more quiet?
Demand it!
5. Where
Everywhere. You have to consider your story more important than someone else’s. You have to be willing to be seen as unsociable.
Is your purpose to crank it out to get it done? Accept that things might not be perfect.
Is your purpose to fine tune something to offend fewer people?
Get over it – whatever you do or don’t do is going to offend someone, somewhere.
6. How – The Big One!
When a colleague says…I’m going in so many directions – can you help me?
So do it – ask them to name the directions, and then help them ……. PRIORITIZE
Don’t be a distraction.
And now it’s your turn, and it’s all about discipline.
This is about empowering yourself by qualifying your time.
It’s about time management through using the power of Focus.
A brief question – Do you answer your phones just because they ring?
– or have you arranged on your answer message information so people will know when they can reach you in person,
- or when you’ll return the calls?
Did you realize you already do a lot of qualifying, by putting your experiences and relationships to work?
If you’re an investor, it’s about …qualifying a neighborhood you really want to work in.
If you’re an agent, it’s about … qualifying a buyer before you open the car door,
…or qualifying a seller before you take an overpriced listing.
As a consumer, it’s about …qualifying a restaurant by checking a menu beforehand,
…or a book by whether it was on someone’s best seller list,
or a book of the month subject,
…or a movie by the reviewer’s credentials, or what your friends say.
So now it’s time to empower yourself, and here’s a process that has worked for me -
1. Look at your “to do” list for the day, the week, or the month
a. Review all the things on your “To Do” list
b. Add the ones you should have put down earlier
c. Force yourself to prioritize them in several different ways
- by How much effort they’ll take
- by How much “new” work you’ll have to do
– by How long you’ve had that goal, or task, or dream
How and why have you been distracted?
List the obstacles that got in your way in the past.
Can you remove or diminish these obstacles now?
– by Which tasks require working with others
– by How long they’ll take to what is necessary
– by What they might cost to accomplish
– by What the money yield might be when accomplished
- etc, etc – get creative!
d. some patterns should emerge from these priority lists about what you think, how you work, and what matters to you. It happened for me, and it helped!
– Group the patterns
– Regroup them
– Study them
– Color code them
– Number them
- Congratulate yourself – what you’re doing is empowering yourself
by understanding what works best for you,
and what you need to do/to change/to be
to make more things work for you.
- set SMART Goals that are based on Your priorities and needs
- make them Specific
- make them Measurable
- make them Attainable
- make them Realistic
- make them Trackable
And Power on through Focus!!
Marge Coffing 727-343-8907 Office
866-356-1214 Voice Mail and Fax 727-479-4947 Cell
blog: www.FloridaFractionalLady.com
website: http://www.MyWatersideSecondHome.com