A Horse Named Focus

Many people choose a goal, a plan, and pump themselves up enough to take action … for a while. But most people find that their focus varies from day to day and circumstance to circumstance. In fact, most people eventually lose their focus altogether and fall right off the horse.

Remember the last time you fell off the horse? What did you do? If you were able to muster up enough focus you got back on the horse, no big deal. Being on the horse and getting on the horse require focus; that’s the point of having the horse!

So how do you get focus and keep it?

One way is to remind yourself not only of what your goal is, but why, exactly, you have the goal. Your goal should be written down somewhere you’ll see it every morning and every night. But don’t stop there! Loss of focus isn’t likely to happen in the middle of the night or while you’re getting ready for work. Keep a “goal card.” This is a note card with your goal written on it. Keep it in your pocket and read it throughout the day. Through experience I’ve found that my focus was lost during certain circumstances. If my goal was to lose weight, it was difficult to pass on the invitation to have lunch with friends at a restaurant I knew wouldn’t serve me anything on my diet. This was an important time to take a “goal break” in the restroom (for privacy) and read my goal card. Why is it that I want to pass on this invitation? Oh right, it’s because I want to lose weight because I want to look and feel better. And exactly how is that going to feel? This is the time to shut your eyes – remember, you’re in a private place, like the restroom – and imagine how you’ll feel when you’ve lost that weight … or whatever your goal may be.

Side note: I need to clarify something. If you’ve agreed to do something (i.e., lunch) and then gone on your secret goal break and decided against your agreement, it IS okay to come back out and tell people you’ve changed your mind. Maybe you’re not feeling well or you remembered you have to run to the bank for lunch, etc. Or maybe you’re not bashful about your goal and you don’t mind telling them point-blank that you’re not going because you’re on a diet.

Repeated Exposure

Your number one tool for maintaining focus is repeated exposure to the feelings you expect to experience when your goal is accomplished. Read your goal morning and night, keep a goal card on you at all times, and don’t hesitate to read it at various times throughout the day.

Experience your goal!

When you read your goal card, morning, night, and in between, don’t just read it – experience it! Think about how it’s going to feel when you accomplish this goal. Saying, “It’s going to feel great when I have a million dollars,” just doesn’t quite capture the moment of your future accomplishment. Close your eyes and really experience the goal.

Support from others

Enlisting the support of other people is a great way to keep you on track and improve your confidence in your ability to accomplish the goal (I call this Goal Confidence). Tell a friend about your goal and ask them to say something to you every day that uses the phrase “… when you achieve [state your goal here].” For example, if you want to have a million dollars, your friend needs to say something to you like, “It’s going to be great when you have that million dollars!” Instruct them to be serious about this and not get cute with their phrases. This is a very effective tool for goal accomplishment.

Support groups are another great resource. If you believe one exists, look for a group of people who want to accomplish the same goal as you. The members of this group should encourage each other as well as help each other come up with new creative ways to accomplish the goal or overcome obstacles to the goal. If you’re unable to find a support group for your goal, consider looking for a group at MyGoalGroups.com.

Mark your calendar!

Marking your calendar with important dates such as milestones, obstacles, or other goal related events will keep you focused on the big picture. If you have a support group, consider sharing your important dates with the other members.

Fall off the horse?

Everyone falls off sometime. Remember: It’s just a horse. Climb back on and use those spurs!