When it comes to success and what it means to us, there is no size fits all approach. Every one of us is a unique individual with a unique way of thinking and set of values. And although we have common traits, there is a combination of beliefs and traits we hold that makes us stand out.
And because we are different, we have a particular view of what success is. If you take a look on the internet, especially social media, you’ll see that success is synonymous with vanity metrics such as:
- The car you drive, the money you have, or how many likes, comments, and followers you have.
These are nice things to have however, THINGS should not be your end goal. But rather a by-product of your work.
[As a side note, I’m not saying that having money is bad, money is neither good nor evil. Money is just a tool for you to use to build the life you want.]
If material possessions are not the indicator of success, what else is left?
Living your life by your values, in other words, putting yourself first.
What do I mean by personal values? A set of principles. And these principles govern our lives.
A compromise is reaching the middle point. Reach an agreement where you give up something you want, and the other side gives up something they want.
A compromise that does not threaten our core needs and value system is beneficial. The problem develops when the compromise made, is in contradiction with our value system. When we are in a work environment that isn’t aligned with our values, we tend to be unhappy and build up frustration.
Here are some examples of values:
- Freedom: The ability to choose the things you want to do and do them on your own terms. You don’t need to ask permission from anyone to do something. (to me, this is the most important value a person can achieve)
- Integrity: Doing the right thing when no one is looking.
- Legacy: To leave something valuable behind that is useful to other people after you die. Are you happy with what you left behind? Proud of your accomplishments? Have you done your best with what you had?
Still, the question remains: What is the key to being successful? And is this key common among successful people?
More factors together will bring your success. But there is one attribute shared by successful people without which success would not be possible!
And that is FOCUS.
The key to achieving the things you want in life is Focus!
By concentrating on the process (i.e, the work itself) and not the result, you put yourself in control!
Why? Because it has never been easier to find information on a subject we express an interest in.
Let’s say I want to open a coffee shop. The first thing I would do is to research, and where can I find all the information I need?
You guessed it, on the internet!
I can find all the bits I need for opening a coffee shop, in any format (audio, video, or written) with just a couple of clicks.
There’s no shortage of information, and focusing on what you need to learn and applying that knowledge, is what keeps you on track!
The process of turning an idea into action looks something like this:
- Idea: (or the initial spark) Out of thousands of thoughts we have each day, one, in particular, grabs your attention.
- Reflection: You find this idea interesting and you start engaging with it, giving it your attention.
- Research: This is the stage where you gather information. Here is where reading and learning take place. The planning aspect of the process is decisive as you’re setting yourself up to take action.
- Action: The most crucial part of the process! Without taking action, your ideas become regrets later.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Although it looks simple, it’s not easy to stay focused nowadays.
Take a look when you sit down to complete a task. How long does it take for you to get distracted? A notification, a message, anything…
You’ll notice that concentrating on doing one thing is an enormous challenge.
Because we live in the century of connectivity, where we’re reachable anywhere and at any time. And as a result, our attention span has decreased significantly, thus it becoming an extremely valuable asset.
I too, find myself getting sucked into the rabbit hole of consuming endless content, without realizing it. (even content I don’t need).
So staying focused on consuming the information you need and getting out is so important.
This is one of the reasons why most people get stuck between Research and Action. In the research stage, if you’re not careful you’ll get overloaded by the large volume of information, which in turn fuels the belief of not knowing enough, thus postponing action.
That’s why you shouldn’t spend too much time doing research. Focus on imperfect action over perfect decisions. This way you’ll be confident in your ability to handle the obstacles that lay ahead.
Why is it so hard to stop consuming large amounts of content? Because it gives you the feeling of accomplishment.
But resist the urge and don’t fall into the trap of hoarding information.
Now, that you know why the lack of focus is detrimental to your success, start taking action today!
Don’t wait for the perfect conditions, as they will never come!
I leave you with the following quote:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.“
If you found this useful, send me a message on socials or Email. (Whatever works for you.)
Until next time, I wish you all the best!