Focus

It may sound ridiculously simplistic, but just taking the trouble to thoughtfully enumerate your priorities can revolutionize your working life—and your life in general.

by Jason Zigmont HowToSell.net [January 14, 2000]

If I had to pick my biggest fault—one I share with many others—it is a lack of focus. I too often find myself drifting from idea to idea and acting in a reactive mode rather then proactively attacking the duties that matter most.

You know what I'm talking about. When a fire breaks out, you focus on it. And when the next customer calls, your focus changes once again.

When I speak with ISPs and their employees, my first suggestion is always to cut down what they are doing and focus on what they are good at.

80/20 solution
Remember the 80/20 rule? It is all too true. 20 percent of your customers take up 80 percent of your time. The reason this happens is simple: You let them. Maybe it's time to fire those customers. Maybe it's time to prioritize what you do. Maybe it's time to write your goals and priorities down.

I actually tried this radical approach. I wrote down my goals, both personal and professional, and then prioritized them. When I first did this, I was amazed to discover what my goals and priorities really are.

The consequences to my life were also surprising. I found myself having extra time and less stress. Now, everything I do has a time and place, and I work hard to keep them within those lines. What helped me was an audio book by Zig Ziglar entitled Goals. It is available from Amazon.

Your turn
The best thing you can do for yourself and your company is to write down your goals and priorities. What you will find will surprise you.

For example, one of the things I realized is that telephone calls take too much useful time. Think about shutting the telephones off and sending messages to voicemail. Set aside a specific time to return the messages, and leave a number on your voicemail for emergencies. You will be amazed how much more productive you are.

Remember that being reactive will cost you time. Planning and being proactive will make sure your time is best used, and it will allow you to have more time for the things that matter.

Like golf!

—End