Focus: Key strategy for creating success at work and in life

Image by House Committee on Education and Labor via Flickr

As attention turns to evaluating President Barack Obama's first 100 days on the job, this is also an excellent time to pause to gauge where we are with the things we're working on. Our projects may not be as high-profile as leading the free world, but they can still be important. And how we're doing on them right now will determine how well we do them in the future.

We've talked often in this space about goal achievement and focus. Today, I want to remind you about why focus is important. In chapter three of Zoom Power: Your Key to Hitting Your Personal, Business and Financial Targets, I illustrate how total focus can make a total difference in our results. One example for me was my journey to becoming a bestselling author. My original approach was to try to spread myself all over the place -- traveling to book signings, buying space in publications, sending out random e-mails, attending conferences. Nothing seemed to work. But then I began to learn about Internet marketing and sat down to create a very focused marketing plan to tell others about my book. And it worked! I become a bestselling author!

The principles from that are something to help you. Remember, it's not necessary to do every single thing. What's often better is to narrow your focus and do the things that directly impact what you are trying to accomplish. If your goal is to become known as an expert on bird migration, then focus on that area. Forget trying to publish papers or do talks on dogs and cats, snakes and spiders. Focus. And you'll find your reputation growing.

The same goes for the tasks on your to-do list. Delegate where you can and X some things off the list all-together. If you've decided this weeks needs to be about marketing your business, then maybe now is not the time to try to work on distribution channels and product development, too. Those things may be important, but they may not be important for this moment.

What often happens when we fail to focus is that we try to do too much and end up not doing anything all that well. Focus on one thing, then move on to the next. You'll get much better results.

So just as the public is evaluating the President to see how well he is doing, evaluate yourself. Are you getting things done or are you just busy doing a bunch of nothing? If it's the latter, lack of focus may be the problem. Focus on doing one thing well and you'll find you're in a much better position.

What has been your best strategy for getting things done?

Have something interesting to say? Make a little cash off it

Marynn Reid, a writer friend, shares helpful tips you can use to take charge of your financial life. Her blog, alphanista.com, is a resource for strong women everywhere, and today's post does not disappoint.

If you're looking for a new way to bring in some extra cash -- and these days, who isn't? -- then she has some blogging suggestions for you. Share your expertise and get some nice change, too. Maybe you'll have ads on your site. Maybe you'll do affiliate marketing. There are lots of choices.

This blog helps me share my message of empowerment and "just get out there and do it" with others. It's one tool in my arsenal of books, speaking engagements, trainings and others. And I will be adding even more tools soon.

One new tool we're developing is our affiliate marketing program. I'll share just a tiny bit now, and give you the full spiel later. One product coming soon is an e-book that will help business owners, speakers, professionals, authors and others create additional revenue streams using information they already know! It's an e-book that comes from the advice, suggestions and experiences I've shared with clients and others at speaking engagements. Of course you can buy it directly and learn of great ways to add to your bottom line, but you will also have the opportunity to sell it to your friends and contacts and make some extra money, too. As Maryann said, if you're not working on a plan to make money online, you don't know how to make money. I want to show you how.

You don't have to sit around feeling helpless in this economy, wishing someone else would just give you a job, or give you a break or give you a hand up. You can create your own break by being proactive and building your own blog, business, network, group, organization or other setup to bring in more income.

So what ways are you looking to add a few more dollars this year?

You cannot afford self-doubt

Are you feeling a little off your game lately? Maybe you goofed on a recent project or didn't quite reach an important goal. Maybe your star that used to be shining is feeling a bit dim. Whatever the case, you're having a serious crisis of confidence.

I understand where you're coming from; it can happen to anyone. Sometimes when you've been doing pretty well and then hit a dry patch, it can shake you. Or if you have been in a rough place for a while now, that certainly can take its toll. The result can be self-doubt, anxiety, shaky confidence and fear.

I remember really botching a speaking engagement a while back. I went to the stage with excitement and confidence, as usual. But somewhere in the middle of what I was saying, I did something I had never done before. I lost my words. I could not remember the quote. I was blank. Nothing was there. My skin got hot. I started coughing, sputtering all over the place. An auditorium of hundreds of people stared back at me, the graduation speaker. Someone brought me some water, which gave me a moment to recover, but the rhythm was lost. I eventually recovered and went on to finish my talk. Actually, the audience finished it for me, for when I paused after saying something, thunderous applause broke out. The audience clapped me off the stage!

That moment certainly gave me pause and could have become even bigger in my mind but I knew self-doubt could not take hold. I had to remember that I was really good at this and that moment didn't define me. I knew why I lost the quote -- I wasn't absolutely sure of it and should have studied it more. So I prepared better for the next engagement and was back to my usual form. I rocked the house!

So while I understand where you are, I'm here to tell you that you cannot allow yourself to dwell in that place. You must come out of it. That's because self-doubt has a way of eating away at everything you've accomplished and what you're working toward and replacing it with ... nothing. That's right, nothing.

Self-doubt paralyzes you. It makes you question every action and in the midst of the questions, it pins your arms behind your back because you're so afraid to move. You're afraid whatever action you make will be the wrong one.

That's why you can't afford self-doubt. And you've got to dig yourself out of that hole and get back into the game.

Here is how:

1. Remember something you did really well. It's tempting to focus on all the mistakes you've made (and maybe there are plenty) at this time, but do something else instead. Focus on something you rocked at doing. Remember the feeling of pride that washed over you when you did it? Remember the good effect your work produced? Remember how well everything worked out? Bask in the emotions of that moment. Write down what you did, why it worked and what was so good about it.

2. Consider three things you are good at doing. OK, so you might not be good at everything (nobody is), but I know there are some things you do pretty well. Maybe you knit, draw, sing or write well. Maybe you're a great organizer, master of the computer or cook. It doesn't matter whether your list includes things you do at work or in your personal life, just make a list of at least three things you are good at doing.

3. Face the bum deal. Yep, that's right, be honest about what went wrong with the thing you recently goofed at doing. Did you underestimate how much time it would take to complete? Did you not have enough information to make it happen? Did you not give it the proper amount of attention? Write about this. Focus on the actual action and its real reasons for failing and not your emotions. Be matter-of-fact. Write down how these factors can be overcome or addressed.

4. Decide if it's a big deal. Is the thing you failed at a big deal or have you just made it big in your head? If it's truly a big deal, think about how you can fix it now and create a plan to do so, taking into account the reason it failed in the first place (remember, you just wrote about that). If it's not a big deal, consider what new goal you want to tackle and create a plan for making it happen.

5. Set a new goal and deadline. Now, look back at what you wrote about in item four. Focus on the new goal and plan you've just written about. You're either looking at attacking the original goal again or attacking a different one. You've written down a plan for making it happen. Review your plan and attach a realistic deadline.

Get going! The exercise you've just done is a very good way to dispel self-doubt and get your head right again. The first questions helped you refocus on the good you have done and all that you can do, instead of the negative self-doubt. This is important because focusing on your past success reminds you that you have a lot going for you. The remaining questions helped you put your recent failure or slump into perspective, find a way to address it if it is truly something worth addressing. The final part of the exercise was designed to help you get into action by giving you a plan and a deadline.

So use this exercise to kick self-doubt to the curb and get back on track. Do this now, and you're well on your way to another success!

Dare to be a standout | April 13, 2009

I spoke at a college recently where a student told me she was excited about her dream, but she was a little concerned that she would have difficulty reaching it. One of her challenges? She didn't see a lot of people who looked like her in her chosen field. She was good at what she did, but she was not sure how to take it to the level she needed so she could stand out.

This young student's concern is the same concern many people have. Often, we have a dream in mind, but because we don't see examples around us of people who have achieved it, we begin to think it's impossible or unattainable for us.

But that's simply not the case. Whether you're one of the only pursuing a certain path or the only one you know of, consider this: For every first, there had to be someone willing to be an only. Every invention, every new technology, every new idea. Somebody had to risk being the "only" one.

So don't be afraid to be the only. And another thing: You may feel as if you're the only one doing a certain thing, but chances are, you're not. If you don't see other examples in your family, community, city or region, consider that there are others out there, just outside your view. Make it your business to find that community of people, if that's important to you. Finding others like you can give you a confidence boost, provide mentoring opportunities to you and even create opportunities for partnership or exchange of ideas.

You can find others in your field or area by doing a search on the Internet, asking others in related fields and even finding publications that serve people like you. Once you begin looking for others, you'll be amazed at just how connected you truly are.

Whether it's stereotypes that tell us we can't be or do a certain thing or lack of opportunities, too often these barriers separate good people from great dreams.

Whether you find a large community of others pursuing a dream similar to yours or not, stay true to what you are doing. Keep working hard at it and doing your best, even if you don't see others of your gender, race, community or group pursuing it.

Be the standout.

One last thing. Remember that just by pursuing a path of excellence or choosing to be a standout, you will be in the minority. Get used to it.

Feed your mind every day if you want to be strong | April 7, 2009

Sometimes, all you need is to get your head right. But with so many challenges coming from all directions, it can be pretty difficult to clear your mind of the negative and find the desire to do something good.

That's why we all need to feed ourselves with things that nurture us. Just as we must eat food every day to remain strong and healthy, so we must consume motivational, inspirational and informative content on a daily basis.

Doing so allows us to keep our emotional, mental, intellectual and spiritual energy up. And that's important so we are able to face the tough tasks ahead. Consuming inspirational, motivational and informative content gives us confidence, helps us see life in a different way and teaches us to do something better. Of course this blog is a great resource full of inspiration and information, as is the rest of the Knowledge Wealth Series Web site, but there are many other resources to help you on your way.

A neat resource passed on to me earlier has an absolute plethora of inspirational, motivational and informative talks to boost your mood, expand your knowledge and help you get (or stay) on track. Check out 100 Edifying Talks for Self-Improvement and Lifehacking. You'll find talks on a range of topics, including the environment, health, business, arts and culture, relationships and more.

Feeding your mind and spirit doesn't have to be overwhelming. Just find information that's of interest to you and that can help you. Consume a little bit every day and you'll find yourself in a better mood, with a better state of mind. And ultimately, you'll produce better results and enjoy doing it!

Do the thing and then move on | April 3, 2009

A few days ago, some entrepreneurs approached me about participating in one of their new ventures. They said that when they were discussing whom to approach, my name kept coming up. I've worked with none of them before, but they each knew of me and my work.

We had a fascinating meeting, and I truly appreciate the fact that they sought me out. Their idea is great and I believe they have what it takes to make it happen.

I bring this up for one key reason: Sometimes when we are going about our daily work, we just simply never know who is watching. That is why, whether we are doing something grand or something less so, we must do it with a spirit of excellence.

Sometimes when we are in the process of going after a goal or a dream, we can become overwhelmed that things are happening slowly or that nobody even notices us. And so we can be tempted to just go through the motions or to not give it a good shot. But often, it's simply not true that nobody is watching. The thing to remember about pursuing a goal or a dream is that your work is not just about the ultimate destination. It is about the steps along the way. So that means the minor projects and the processes leading to the destination also matter.

Do the work and do it well. And know that each thing you do is building your reputation, your body of work, your company and your legacy.

Pursuing your work or task with a spirit of excellence doesn't necessarily mean laboring over each piece. If you've read Zoom Power: Your Key to Hitting Your Personal, Business or Financial Targets, then you know I don't believe in constantly tinkering or laboring over something more than is necessary. That can often produce, not something that is excellent, but something that started out good but went downhill from there.

A spirit of excellence, in my opinion, means doing something well and with a specific purpose in mind and then releasing it. In other words, work hard on the thing then let it go. Often, we want to keep tinkering and revising and sweating the small stuff, thinking that will make it excellent. Most times, it doesn't. That's just really an excuse to procrastinate.

So instead of constantly revising what you are doing, do it, do it well, then leave it alone and go to the next. To me, that is the true spirit of excellence. One thing won't define you. A body of work will.

When you do that, it allows you to constantly produce good -- even great -- results with a sense of expectancy. You don't dwell on or stress about any one piece of the equation too much because your energy is already on the next.

Then, almost as if unbidden, opportunities will manifest. Reputations will be built. Companies, organizations and groups will grow. All because you chose to operate with a spirit of excellence and move.

You will find people seeking you out, wanting your hand in what they are doing.

Looking for big dreams in action | April 2, 2009

I'm working on my next book, and it's going to be really exciting - and helpful! I can't tell you a lot right now, but I will tell you that it will be something to get you jazzed about your dreams and it'll move you to get off the couch and start working on them, with gusto!

I'm in the research phase so am looking for stories of real people who have taken a big risk -- and have seen it pay off. So if you are someone or know someone who took action on a dream or big goal and it produced an amazing result, then e-mail me at monica@knowledgewealthseries.com. I'd love to hear your story!

Zoom Power: Your Key to Hitting Your Personal, Business and Financial Targets was a lot of fun to write. I got a chance to interview some people I think are pretty neat: William Joyce, creator of Rolie Polie Olie book and TV series; Les Brown, internationally known speaker, author and one-time talk show host; Lenora Worth, author of lots of great books; Delano Wilson, who as a young 30-something is making his mark in business as a McDonald's franchise owner; and others. Zoom Power helps readers see the possibilities for themselves. By the time you finish reading Zoom Power, you will have the mindset for success. It is a great motivational tool and includes a practical goal achievement plan to turn that motivation into action.

This new book will go even further and take away your reasons for holding off on your dream. It will give you the mental tools to get going on your dream -- now.