Focus isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have for success. Without focus, our efforts become scattered, and our goals remain out of reach. With focus, we can channel our energy into what truly matters.
Title Photo by Felix Mittermeier
The Key to Goal Achievement
Have you ever set a goal for yourself, only to feel like you’re running in circles or making little progress? Perhaps you’re juggling too many tasks or wrestling with distractions that pull you away from what truly matters. For many of us, the problem isn’t that we lack the desire or the ability to achieve our goals — it’s that we lack focus.
Let me tell you a quick story about my friend, Sue. Sue is a retired teacher who decided she wanted to write a memoir about her career and the countless lives she’s touched. When she started, she was full of enthusiasm, but every day she found herself sidetracked — answering emails, scrolling through social media, or doing busy work that was unimportant and frequently unnecessary. Meanwhile, her goal seemed to drift further and further away.
Finally, Sue decided to take a different approach. She committed to spending just 30 minutes a day writing, during a time of day when she could focus without interruptions. She set small weekly goals and eliminated distractions during her writing sessions. Within months, Sue had completed the first draft of her memoir — something she’d struggled to do for years.
Sue’s story is a reminder of how powerful focus can be when paired with intentional action. If you’ve ever struggled to stay on track with your goals, you’re not alone. But by cultivating Excelerated Focus™ and aligning your actions with your true desires, you can achieve your most meaningful aspirations — and experience a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment along the way.
Why Focus Is Essential for Achieving Your Goals
Focus isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have for success. Without focus, our efforts become scattered, and our goals remain out of reach. With focus, we can channel our energy into what truly matters.
Here’s why focus is so crucial:
- It Keeps You on Track.
Staying focused helps you avoid distractions and maintain momentum. When you’re clear about what you’re working toward, it’s easier to say “no” to the things that don’t align with your goals. - It Boosts Productivity.
Focus allows you to work more efficiently. Instead of juggling multiple tasks, you concentrate on one thing at a time, which leads to faster progress. - It Improves Quality.
When you focus, you give your best effort to the task at hand. Whether you’re writing, designing, or problem-solving, the quality of your work improves when you’re fully present. - It Builds Momentum.
Progress breeds motivation. Each focused step you take toward your goal builds momentum, making it easier to take the next step. - It Reduces Stress.
Focused work creates a sense of control and clarity, which can reduce stress and prevent burnout.
Six Steps for Sharper Focus
Now that we’ve established why focus is essential, let’s explore practical ways to sharpen your focus and supercharge your goal-setting process. We’ll look at six steps:
Step 1: Be clear about your goals.
Step 2: Break your goals into steps.
Step 3: Eliminate distractions.
Step 4: Bust the multitasking myth.
Step 5: Measure progress.
Step 6: Celebrate your wins.
Be Clear About Your Goals
To stay focused, you need to start with clear, written goals. These aren’t vague wishes or fleeting ideas — they’re specific, personal objectives that inspire you to take action.
And make sure they’re YOUR goals. One of the biggest mistakes we make is pursuing goals we don’t actually care about — goals we think we “should” have. Maybe you’ve caught yourself saying things like:
- “I should exercise more.”
- “I should spend more time with my family.”
- “I should get organized.”
“Should” goals are often rooted in guilt, obligation, or the expectations of others. But true focus comes from pursuing goals that are authentic to you.
Take a moment to reflect:
- Are your goals aligned with your values?
- Do they excite and motivate you?
- If a goal has been on your list for over a year with no progress, is it time to let it go?
Write down your top three goals right now. Make sure they reflect what you truly want, not what you think you “should” want.
Break Your Goals into Steps
Big goals can feel overwhelming. That’s why breaking them into smaller, manageable steps is key. Think of it like building a staircase: each small step brings you closer to the top.
Start small with next actions. Instead of saying, “I want to write a book,” start with something like, “I’ll write the outline this week.” Next actions are the tiny, concrete steps you can take today or tomorrow to move forward.
Don’t wait for the finish – celebrate progress along the way. Every step you take is worth celebrating. Progress — no matter how small — builds confidence and reinforces your focus.
Eliminate Distractions
In our modern life, distractions are everywhere. Social media, email, and even our own thoughts can pull us away from what matters. So take steps to identify and minimize your distractions. Take stock of the things that frequently derail your focus. Then, find ways to eliminate or reduce them. For example:
- Turn off notifications on your phone.
- Set specific times to check email.
- Create a dedicated, quiet workspace.
Bust The Multitasking Myth
You’ve probably heard that multitasking is a productivity killer, and it’s true. Research shows that our brains aren’t wired to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously.
To begin with, true multitasking — performing several mental tasks at the same time — doesn’t exist. In reality, the brain is jumping from one task to another, so quickly that it seems that all tasks are being processed at the same time. But the fact is, the act of switching from task to task takes up processing time and slows you down. And research indicates that not only is multitasking slower, you may be damaging your ability to switch between tasks, remembering less, and increasing the difficulty of recognizing what is important vs. what is unimportant.
Instead, embrace the power of single-tasking. Prioritize one task at a time, and give it your full attention. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish.
Measure Progress
Tracking your progress is a powerful way to stay focused. It gives you a sense of achievement and helps you identify areas where you might need to adjust your approach.
Ask yourself:
- How will I measure success?
- How often will I review my progress?
Celebrate Your Wins
Don’t wait until you’ve achieved your ultimate goal to celebrate. Acknowledge and reward yourself for the milestones you reach along the way. These small celebrations keep your motivation high and make the journey more enjoyable.
Put Ideas Into Action
All the focus in the world won’t matter if you don’t take action. Success (however you define it) is not difficult or complicated. Success comes from doing a few simple things, every day, over time. And failure comes from not doing those simple things, every day, over time. In The Slight Edge, Jeff Olson tells us that consistently repeated daily actions + time = unconquerable results. Time is the force that magnifies insignificant things into something unstoppable. [Olson]
But here’s the stumbling block. These small actions are easy to do. They are also easy NOT to do. The problem is, says Olson, that making the right choice (or the wrong one) is not dramatic. In fact, it’s mundane…some might even say boring. [Olson]
The right decisions, made daily, over time add up to a successful life – one might say an Excelerated Life™. So today, take one small action. Whether it’s writing down your goals, breaking them into steps, or eliminating a distraction, start now.
Embrace Excelerated Focus™
Excelerated Focus™ doesn’t mean working harder — it’s working smarter. It’s aligning your goals with your values, staying clear and committed, and taking consistent, intentional steps forward.
So, over to you: Do you have a BIG goal you’ve been putting off? What’s one step you can take today to move closer to it?
Your dreams are waiting. It’s time to focus, take action, and create the life you’ve always wanted. I challenge you to pick one goal and commit to it for the next week. Write it down, break it into steps, and eliminate at least one distraction. And if you’re so inclined, let me know how it goes — I’d love to hear about your progress! Let’s focus together as you embrace your Excelerated Life™!
Look back over the six steps we discussed.
Which one could help you the most to focus on your BIG goal?
Share your ideas by leaving a post below.
Excelerated Focus™ — aligning your actions with your true desires — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
Resources:
Olson, Jeff. The Slight Edge. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2005-2013.
This blog post includes research information and suggestions provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. The content was generated with AI assistance and is intended to provide information and guidance. Please note that the suggestions are not official statements from OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.