After my first semester of law school, I was placed on academic probation. I worked hard for those terrible grades, and when the results came back, I believed I wasn’t smart enough and that I was a terrible test taker. I was wrong. I passed the California Bar on my first attempt and that was when it was a three-day test among the hardest in the nation at the time.
What changed between being placed on academic probation and passing the bar during a year with a very low pass rate? My focus. That was it. I defined a single goal and put all my mental and physical energy toward achieving it, without distractions.
That focus became invaluable as a trial lawyer. The level of concentration required in the courtroom is intense; you eat, breathe, and sleep the trial. People’s lives are on the line, and the work becomes all consuming.
Now, as an executive coach, I help my clients develop that same level of focus. We begin by identifying their top priority and creating a strategic plan to achieve it. When you define your goal and commit focused effort toward it, you achieve it.
Here are the keys to maintaining effective focus and achieving results:
- Be singular in your attention. You do not have time for distractions or drama while working toward your goal.
- You can’t intensely focus on more than one thing at a time. Be prepared to let go of the other things that don’t matter as much..
- Ask yourself, “Does this action move the ball toward the goal line?” If not, don’t do it.
- You only have time and energy for positive thinking and supportive people around you.
- Set a timeline for this intense focus. This level of concentrated attention cannot be sustained indefinitely.
- Tell those closest to you about your goal and your commitment to focus. Ask for their support, and remind them that this period of intense effort is temporary—and explain why it matters.
Choose one thing you truly want in your life right now, and give it your undivided attention.
If you or your organization wants help getting focused, aligned, and executing on goals, contact us at TM Consulting. We’ll help you clarify your goal, build the plan, and follow through until you succeed.