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A Message from Phyllis
Announcements
Feature Article:
FOCUS FOR SUCCESS
 A
Message from Phyllis
Dear Readers,
I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall season. As I was taking a walk the other day, my thoughts went to how I am choosing to spend my time. It’s always about priorities and making good choices. As many of you know, I often speak about choices. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. How are you choosing to spend them? Every interruption and distraction drains our time. We lose the flow and it takes at least 10 minutes to get back on track. Consider blocking out time for a project and not letting yourself get distracted or interrupted. The local high school in my area now has 4 ninety-minute classes each day rather than 8 forty-five minute classes. It is more effective to work longer on a subject or project rather than short periods of time. How are you spending your day? I have little signs that read “Is this the best use of my time?” Send me an email if you want me to send you one. It’s a great reminder throughout the day to check in with yourself to see if you are staying on track. We still have a few months left in 2007, so let’s use our time wisely. Learn more time management tips in the newest telephone coaching group starting in January. See below for details.
Warm Regards,
Phyllis
Announcements
You asked for it! Due to several requests, I will be forming a new telephone coaching group in January. It is for lawyers and other professionals who want to start 2008 off to be the best year ever! It is for three months and we will meet twice a month by conference call for a one hour group call. Group is 6-8 people. There is a lot of wisdom shared in the group and great support to reach your goals. Send me an email if you want to reserve a spot.
Very affordable at only $150.00 per month.
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Print assessment still available. Send email to phyllis@powerfulcoaching.com if you want to learn more about your strengths and behaviors.
This
Month's article
FOCUS FOR SUCCESS
A conference I attended reinforced the importance of focus when it comes to being successful at everything we do. The featured speaker was Jack Canfield, who spoke about his book, The Power of Focus, which he wrote with Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt. Yet, these authors aren’t the only ones who recognize the importance of being focused. When I asked a very successful businesswoman what her secret to success was, she replied, focus, focus, and focus. What can you do to avoid distractions and eliminate procrastination? Focus. It will help you get what you want in life. Here’s how.
There are 10 strategies to help you focus. Here are the first two:
Strategy #1. Your Habits will determine your future.
A habit is a behavior you repeat. We are all creatures of habit. Some of our habits are good for us. Some are not. Either way, we’re very predictable. We have routines and daily rituals—the way we shower, eat breakfast, read the paper, answer the phone, etc. –are all habits that determine how our lives operate. These normal activities affect the results we get. If you’re not satisfied with the results, it’s time to change. You can reprogram yourself, but you must be consistent. For example, if you are always late for meetings and you want to change and be early, you will need to make a consistent effort to be on time. You may have to set your clock and watch ahead so you get to your destination on time. It will take time to change. However, the more often you’re early the easier it will get. Then one day it will simply be normal behavior for you.
Successful people take action and are disciplined. They create successful habits that create positive rewards. Creating new habits can be very challenging. Many people say it takes three to four weeks to change a habit, but if it’s been with you for many years, it could take several months to change.
One point Jack Canfield repeated was “the people you hang out with and the environment you live in strongly influence what you do.” If you spend time with people who always complain, you may start believing what they say. But if you surround yourself with people who are positive you’re more likely to see opportunity. Successful people leave clues. Study the habits of successful role models. Read their autobiographies, listen to motivational tapes and build relationships with successful people. A well-known business philosopher Jim Rohn suggests you invite one successful person to breakfast or lunch every month and interview them. The way to create successful habits is to identify your unproductive habits and define your new successful ones. Think of all the benefits of creating a new habit. Now you need to take action. Create three action steps to create one new habit that will positively impact your life. Your habits will determine your future. Create the future your want!!
Strategy #2: It’s not hocus pocus, It’s all about focus!
Entrepreneurs and managers often spend time doing tasks to run their businesses, but don’t have time for the activities they went into business for. It’s important to focus on the activities with which you produce extraordinary results. Your brilliant activities give you energy and help you to reap big rewards.. It’s important to identify your talents and to honestly see the percentage of your time that is spent in your areas of brilliance.
Now look at three things you don’t like doing and see if you can delegate them or eliminate them. For example, I have never enjoyed the financial aspects of my business, so I hired an accountant to pay the bills and monitor my expenses. There are still several tasks I am doing that I must delegate. Successful people delegate. What is it that you are doing that someone else can do? If you’re stuck doing day-to-day routine activities it keeps you from the high payback ones.
Setting boundaries and saying “no” are important steps to staying focused. Very often we’re interrupted by the phone, or people, or by our own thoughts. To achieve what you want you must focus on what works.
So, this month let’s look at habits that don’t serve us well and all of the tasks that we do that are not the best use of our time. If you work on changing a habit and work on delegating three tasks that you previously did, you will be on the way to greater success. Next month we’ll continue with more strategies for staying focused to achieve success.
Have a great month!
Best always,
Phyllis Sisenwine
Master Certified Coach
Published by
Phyllis Sisenwine, Master Certified Coach, Motivational Speaker and
writer. She works with clients to earn more money, improve time management and stay focused.
To schedule a powerful coaching conversation send an email. Her website is located
at www.powerfulcoaching.com
Copyright
2007, All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Phyllis
Sisenwine, Master Certified Coach
POWERFUL SOLUTIONS, INC. Inspiring Excellence...in You.
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