Procrastination

"The principle of concentration is the medium by which procrastination is overcome. The same principle is the foundation upon which both self-confidence and self-esteem are predictated". - Napoleon Hill

Where is your attention? If you feel that you aren't accomplishing everything you want (and maybe need) to in your life, the answer is in your focus.

We live in a society where everyone and everything is competing for our attention. What do you think a "reality show" is? Its nothing more than a network trying to get your attention. What do you think the NFL is? It is a group of wealthy people who are paying men exorbitant amounts of money to . . . get your attention. If you are struggling in your marriage, I can GUARANTEE YOU, some of the problem is that your spouse wants more of your attention. If your not succesful at your occupation, the likely culprit. . . your attention. The clothes people wear, the things they say and do. . . all of it, can on some level, be brought back to where they are paying attention and who they want paying attention to them. Why do you exercise? Why does she wear that blouse? Why does he have that car? Why does she read that book? Its everywhere.

In a world where everyone and everything is vying for it, your attention is probably the number one most valuable thing you own in the world! What would a lawyer pay to have a juror's undivided attention? What would a company pay for your attention to their product? (Nike spends millions just on superbowl commercials and they have a commercial for their products running somewhere in the world 24 hours a day, 365 days a year). So, the (multi)million dollar question is . . . do you treat your attention as being that valuable? Are you even aware that you can decide where you place your valuable attention?

By the way, once someone has your attention, they can be incredibly crafty at keeping it. . . Ask the producers of American Idol. Take a good look at your day and see if there was anything in it that got your attention without you even realizing it. Surf the net at work? Do you have a specific schedule of when you will allow that distraction? Or. . . do you surf the net jumping from interesting thing to interesting thing until something else (like that client calling) recaptures your attention? I'm a realist. I understand why you surf the net at work. I can even make a very strong argument for PURPOSELY and INTENTIONALLY surfing the net for a pre-determined amount of time to shift your focus away from work. A great time to do this is immediately after finishing a task you committed to completing and right before undertaking the next task. But, if your attention is being left to advertisers, columnists or bloggers until someone or something else (besides your own conscious choice) breaks the spell, then you are not focused.

Want a better marriage. Focus on it. Want a better relationship with your kids? Go focus on them. Want to do better at work? Lose weight? Have a great sex life? Get in the best physical shape of your life? Get wealthy? . . . focus, intentionally your attention on that area of your life.

I know it sounds simple. It is. All it it really requires is the awareness that you choose where to put your attention. People don't mis-aim their attention. They don't even realize they can aim it.


Do this for one week (and beyond if it serves you):

1)Whatever area of your life you would like to improve this week, commit to placing your focus on it at specific times every single day. Focus on your wife, for example, every day this week at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, and 10pm. I am not saying you need to do something for her at all of these times. I am not even saying she needs to know your focusing on her. Just focus on her at these times for no less than 5 minutes. One week. Watch what happens that week.

2) Go on an information diet. Unplug from anyone who can financially profit off of your attention for one week. Reset and decide anew who deserves your attention. Turn the TV off for a week. When you turn it back on, make conscious decisions about what if anything on TV should have your attention. Ask yourself what else you could do with your attention during that "reality show" you just have to watch. Same with internet. Newspapers. Fictional books. Its just a week. Once every three months, do it again. Just make the decision where to put your attention. I am not telling you where to put it, but I am suggesting that you should absolutely be placing your attention on purpose.

"Any man who can safely drive while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. - Albert Einstein