One of the hardest things to do in today’s hectic environment is to focus. A recent article was shared on High Achievers Network by Doug Grady

The title “4 Secrets To Get Focused, Stay Focused & Increase Sales Today” by Kristoffer Thompson on Sales Leadership Coach website. (If you’ve been reading my blogs you know that I do not support or get compensation for any of the websites, people or articles that I reference as of this date, it’s just information that I feel might help or add value to my audience.) OK so much for the legal disclaimer.

So a few highlights that I am using both for sales and for running my business and life are below:

Gary Blair taught me a great way to think of focus is the following….

Follow

One

Course

Until

Successful

Now unlike most, I do believe that Gen Y and others can multitask productively. I think the science is outdated regarding the brain on this topic and we won’t know for sure till more time and more studies have been done. Having said that, for the majority of us. We need to do more regarding FOCUS!

Be Laser Focused….

One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus, we never concentrate our power. – Tony Robbins

If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing to patient attention than any other talent – Isaac Newton

….It is so much easier to STAY focused than it is to GET focused.

- Kris Thompson

Focus is the tool of domination – Gary Blair

Here are 4 ways to increase focus adapted from the article to go beyond sales.

1. Block out time for each project. Schedule chunks of time each day where you focus on that activity. Don’t talk to anyone that’s not directly associated with the project during that period of time. It can be 10-12 or 2-4 or any other block of time. Tell your family and friends not to contact you during this time. Lock your door or put a “do not disturb” sign on your chair.
2. Don’t be on the internet unless it is absolutely necessary for the project or activity. It is too tempting for you to check the score of the game, news, , facebook or a number of other social media platforms. Do that after you can’t work on the project or activity. 
3. No text messaging. Instead call them live. Now this one I am kind of torn on. Being in Social Media Consulting I find that I have had success with both. It really depends on the age of the person you are trying to reach and their digital awareness. I interact with many partners and prospects both live and with text. The key is to determine which way the person involved likes to be contacted.
4. Only check email a few times a day. Most of the emails you get can wait at least an hour or 2 before a response is necessary. (I recommend checking your email three times a day. 1 hour in the morning, at luch and then again in the evening after 5 or 6pm. Unless you are waiting on an important response that is vital to your project, then let your phone be your screening guide. Quick looks, don’t get distracted)

Les Adkins is the CEO of  Orange SMS Consulting and an International Social Media Strategist, speaker, consultant and author. Bringing strategy and whole brain thinking to creative campaigns and social media through his work. Please follow @mysylbert and connect on LinkedIn

Join us on FB as well