Here are four steps to help you stay focused on your FreeLife business.
By Brian Altman, Vice President of Leadership Development
’Tis the season to be distracted! If there’s ever a time of the year when we can find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, it’s right now.
It’s human nature to feel inundated and weighed down by the distractions of the season. If we’re not careful, we’ll spend much of our time and energy on “seasonal clutter and busy-ness” that detract us from the bigger picture. Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish writer during the Victorian era, said “Our grand business in life is to not only see what lies dimly in the distance, but to focus on what clearly lies at hand.”
As Leaders, we need to master the discipline of focus on a daily basis to keep ourselves from swerving to the right or left. One degree off course can land us in a ditch.
Does focus come naturally? No way! It’s a discipline that has to be practiced every day for anyone desiring to be a Leader with influence.
Four characteristics of a focused Leader:
1. Seeks out opportunities to grow personally. Leaders recognize that distractions are part of any growth process. People who wish things would always remain calm or status quo are unwilling to grow. True Leaders don’t live in the past. They know that to get where they want to be, they must move forward and become more than they currently are.
2. Has a unique ability to concentrate longer. When numerous things are coming at you, the ability to concentrate is even more important. Focus on only your goals daily. For example, while you’re running around the mall, make it a goal to get tools into the hands of three people in exchange for their name and phone number. Focus on this activity daily and your momentum will increase through the holiday season. It’s the perfect time because the greatest number of weight loss goals are made on January 1. So, you’ll have people to follow up with when the clock strikes midnight on December 31.
3. Follows through on commitments rather than make excuses. Following through on commitments during times of distractions strengthens your leadership. Leaders don’t make excuses about not meeting their commitments. When people make excuses, they are really voicing their frustration about not knowing what to do.
4. Is accountable to those they lead. People may close their ears to your advice, but they will always keep their eyes open to your example. Leaders know that in order to increase their influence, they must know what they want and make the effort to get it even during the most distracting of times.
The holiday season is a wonderful time of celebration. However, practicing the discipline of focus during times of heavy distractions allows us to find out who we really are and what we’re living for. If you’ll focus on today and commit to being an instrument of blessing during this holiday season, your 2011 will begin with a lot of momentum.
I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
