(Note: this post was originally published in 2019 and is being re-published for your encouragement!)
What’s one thing we all need to succeed?
I’m sure you could come up with many answers, all of which are probably true, but there’s a particular answer I’ve got in mind. This little 5-letter word is oftentimes elusive, and when you find it it can become almost magical in the power it can wield.
What am I talking about?
Focus.
Focus is not only how we read blurry lines on a page. It’s how we get important stuff done. It’s how we’re able to sift through the noise and concentrate on what matters. And the lack of it is what can cause all sorts of problems in our lives, from failed businesses to broken relationships to miserable personal lives.
Don’t believe me?
Think about some of these examples.
- A carpenter who excels at building timber frame homes, but tries to market himself as a “jack-of-all-trades.” He goes under because, although he could have set himself apart as a specialist, he instead chose to market to the general populace, and in doing so, made himself boring and replaceable.
- A wife who says yes to everything she is asked to be involved in. A few years into this, her husband is asking for a separation because he feels lonely and unloved.
- A stay-at-home mom who doesn’t have the courage to pursue what she’s passionate about. So instead she tries to content herself with taking care of her family, but all the while inside she’s dying to do something she finds meaningful.
What do all of these stories have in common? They all lack someone with a focus on what they want, and a willingness to pursue that thing no matter what.
Lack of focus can be incredibly damaging in pretty much every area of our lives – personal, professional, financial, relational, spiritual, emotional, and more.
I’ve realized over the last few months that my own life has lacked focus, and it had started to affect me in a very real way. I was involved in too many volunteer things, trying to connect with too many old friends, and pursuing way too many different avenues in my business. The end result in all of those was that, since I couldn’t focus on anything, I did everything I attempted half-heartedly and poorly.
Well goodness. No wonder I was struggling to find new clients in my business. Why would anyone want to listen to me if I don’t even know how to listen to myself?
Over the past few months, I’ve been diving deep and recommitting to what I really care about. My health. Friends and family. Excellent hospitality, both in my personal and professional lives. Building a sustainable online business. Finding balance.
And can I just say…
It feels so darn good!
I’m excited to get up in the morning. I’ve got more energy than I’ve had in years. I’m more engaged in day-to-day conversations. I’m more alert to opportunities to pursue my dreams. Plain and simple, I’m happier.
Perhaps you’re not quite there yet. Maybe you’re feeling lost in your life. You know it’s missing something, but you don’t know what. Or maybe you know what you want, but you haven’t committed enough to go after it with everything you have.
Let me encourage you to commit (or recommit) to focus.
It’s hard, yes. Few things in life worth doing are going to be easy. But I promise you, if you put in the time to really focus on what matters to you, you will see the results. If you don’t, you won’t. It’s that simple.
What are you going to recommit to focus on today? Let me know in the comments!