Focus
Now that we are three weeks into the New Year it is time to see how we are doing with meeting our goals. Is your desk still a mess? How’s your inbox? What about family, have you done anything special with them this month?
A book that has a permanent spot on my desk is, The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt. This book has moved me from dreams to action and I would encourage you to read it. The authors discuss the fact that the results of our bad habits will determine our future and one of the best ways to address this issue is to replace your bad habit with a good habit. Successful habits produce benefits and rewards.
Instead of focusing on the bad habit I focus on a good one I want to replace it with. Something I have implemented in my own life to change the course of my path is as follows:
1. Name the goal or new habit and write it down.
2. Write down how this goal will improve my life.
3. Write down what action steps I need to implement in my daily life to achieve this goal.
4. How will I motivate myself to ensure I am staying on track?
5. What is the timeline for meeting the goal?
Often we mistakenly think that some of our bad habits are insignificant in the big picture of our lives and yet I believe they are often bigger than we realize. For example, having an overflowing inbox in your email or a messy desk can waste hours of time when you need to find something quickly. This could translate into an inadequate presentation, not getting as many appointments as you could have or giving bad customer service. Taking 15 minutes at the end of the day to put things back in their files can make the following day much more productive.
If you are one of the many people that are slipping back into their old habits and not working toward achieving the goal that will make your life better than start today by following the steps above. Remember that many successful people have had ongoing setbacks but what set them apart was their tenacity to keep going, keep practicing, and staying focused. Make today the day you reignite your goals and new habits to achieve what you have always dreamed of.
About Marlene Loeppky
Marlene Loeppky, owner of Business Life – a personal and professional development company, blogs about the importance of creating a life of balance in the world of business, not only for ourselves but also those around us. It is difficult for many of us, and we often don’t realize this until either our health fails us or relationships are broken. By engaging with you as you learn innovative ways of bringing balance to your workplaces, and in other areas of your lives, Marlene shares ways of ensuring that balance is a top priority in your daily life.
A recent graduate from Trinity Western University, with Masters in Leadership (Business Stream), Marlene shares things from a wealth of knowledge she learned through experiences as a student, manager, employee, volunteer, fundraiser, wife and mother.
Marlene believes in life-long learning and sharing with one other — the best way to remember something is to share it. The blogs won’t be long, just a few minutes to spark a new idea that may help you as you lead in your business or organization.
