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Inspirational Leaders Know How To Focus

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: It happens to all of us. No one can stay completely focused, with intensity, all the time. But when you find yourself in a bad patch, when nothing seems to be working in your job or your business, think about renewing your focus....

Inspirational Leaders Know How To Focus

Patience And Consistent Action Lead To Success I've long written about the difference between two types of people out there, especially in the business world. In truth, each of us has both of these personalities within us, and we might lean toward one or the other for long periods of time in our lives. Some even choose one or the other as a permanent lifestyle choice. I'm referring again to the Victim, and the Entrepreneur.

We need Entrepreneurs, to take care of business in our world - whether they actually start and run businesses, or whether they simply bring their entrepreneurial spirit to an existing enterprise. Victims, who constantly need to be taken care of, especially rely on provision from the Entrepreneurs. Victims are sometimes described as "political" people... they are generally critical of others (blaming everyone but themselves for their lot in life), they're careful to conceal their true selves from everyone (including themselves), and they're extremely competitive. Entrepreneurs, in contrast, are defined more by their sense of personal responsibility. They're curious about others (seeking always to find what they can learn from you), they're very courageous (unafraid to be bold about who they are, and to take bold action), and they're highly collaborative (having nothing to fear from other people).

I recently made a new friend - a fellow internet entrepreneur named Robert Bryan Anthony. He seems to be an Entrepreneur in every sense of the word (and you can meet him at his web site; just do an internet search for "Meet Robert Bryan Anthony" and you'll find him). Aside from having "three first names," he also has a surplus of energy, drive, and enthusiasm. He needs those surpluses to make up for a deficit in his senses - he lost most of his vision years ago and is now legally blind. When you get to know him, though, you realize he does not consider himself disabled. He's no victim. He's an Entrepreneur, running a business on his computer and making do with a screen that's zoomed so far in he can only see about a fourth of what you're seeing on your screen right now.

Imagine the "focus" it takes to overcome such a challenge. Then realize, if you have the courage, that you have challenges in your own life (great or small) that need overcoming; and that, just maybe, you've let your focus slip.

It happens to all of us. No one can stay completely focused, with intensity, all the time. But when you find yourself in a bad patch, when nothing seems to be working in your job or your business, think about renewing your focus.

"Bryan," my blind colleague, created an acrostic to help focus on, well, focus itself. With his permission, I've reprinted it here...

F-amiliarize your self with what to do in your life and business.

O-utsource possible actions, if you can, so you will be able to pay better attention to more income producing activities.

C-reate a unique environment, office space, atmosphere, sensory modifications, in order to make your "creative awareness" more effective.

U-nderstand that becoming a successful entrepreneur requires consistent PATIENCE.

S-aturate your mind, body, spirit, and soul with the positive aspects of life.

... he went on, recently, to add this admonition to another colleague:

"Be sure to ATTRACT what is good, pure, right, and worth "living for." Then and only then can you truly be successful!

Sure, Bryan's acrostic is aimed at other business owners in our community... but you can see how its wisdom applies pretty universally. For instance, if you work at a large company, you still need to "saturate" yourself with positivity... meaning, stay around upbeat people, and try to avoid joining gripe sessions with the Victims at work. Outsourcing, as such, may not be possible for you (though if you start your own business on the side, it will be). However, you can use that concept as a metaphor for prioritizing your own activities in favor of those most important. And, of course, we all could use more patience. Success doesn't come knocking... it takes its own time.

Whatever your endeavor, from renewing your vitality for the new year to rethinking your investment strategies for the new economy, you're gonna need a healthy portion of focus. Thanks to Bryan for reminding us that something as simple as renewed focus is available to all of us, if we want it. Even a guy who can't see much can still be an inspiring example of great focus.

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Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



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