Be Laser-Focused

 

Good things come from sacrifice. If you want what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done. It’s to start sacrificing the right things so you can have a better future. 

 

Don’t let anyone define success but you. Stop being “busy,” and start being focused.  

Spend your time wisely because many things want your attention and energy. Make sure they’re the right things. 

 

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link 

 

Take a look at the 3 topmost things that can define and secure a better future for you, professionally and personally:   

 

1. Other people’s definition of success. At some point, you have to realize that you have to give up other people’s definition of success. This is one of the most difficult things to give up because it is so deeply embedded in our cultural narratives that it becomes the standard by which we measure our lives. Even as entrepreneurs we have collectively agreed that fame and fortune are the markers of success. 

 

But, giving up other people’s definition of success is incredibly liberating and ultimately leads to the fullest expression of who you are and what matters to you.  

 

It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a daily habit of comparing less and creating more. “Success” doesn’t just mean what the larger mob of society says it means: lots of money, fame, and fortune. Many people with fame, fortune, and money have terribly empty, imbalanced lives. Your success isn’t defined by what other people say. No one can define your success but you. If you continue to let others tell you what success is, you’ll never reach it. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be a true success, because it’s not what you really valued. 

 

2. Busyness. The saying goes, “The most successful people I know are not busy. They’re focused.” How you spend your days is how you spend your life. 

 

A lot of people love being “busy.” They wear it as a badge of honor. When you ask them how they’ve been, what’s the response? “I’m so busy,” they lament.  

 

But it’s a subtle brag. They like the feeling. When you’re busy, you don’t really do anything — just because your calendar is full of meetings, appointments, and commutes doesn’t mean you’re actually making any progress towards your true goals. Are you focused, making tangible action steps towards what truly matters? Or are you just “busy?” 

 

When you’re busy, you are on autopilot. You can’t see the hours slipping away, time you’ll never get back. 

 

But when you choose to be focused — to spend your time and energy on achieving your true goals — that’s where the magic happens. That’s where focus turns into flow states, hyper-focused mental efforts to make fast progress. 

Most people prefer the emotional boost of bragging about how “busy” they are, instead of actually doing the real hard work. Choose focus, not busyness. 

 

3. Distraction and Entertainment. Reinvesting your free time is one of the most important ingredients to your success. Successful people don’t see it as ‘free time.’ They see it as the only time they have to do the things they really want to do in life and they don’t take a minute for granted.  If you’re working a full-time job, with a commute and family and bills, you don’t have a lot of free time. If you’re like most people, the precious little free time you do have is spent on entertainment and distraction, not learning, and growing. 

 

This is low-level thinking, and it will lead you to a, frankly, low-level life. 

But true success requires sacrifice. A common misconception many of those sleep-when-you’re-dead hustle-entrepreneurs claim is that you need be working all the time.  

 

The truth is you need to put in hard, grinding work — for a time. After you’ve spent the time creating your life, you can sit back and enjoy the work you’ve done. If you want to make great strides and achieve a truly extraordinary life, you need to reinvest your free time into learning new skills, putting in the work, and being productive. It won’t last forever. But you need to put in the time now, so later, you can have the life you want. 

5 Steps to Being the Best Networker

If you’re trying to grow your network, one needs to stop mindlessly applying basic networking tips and start learning from the habits of exceptional networkers.

 

Individuals stand out when they do not practice the norm. The extraordinary habits make a big difference. And, in an era when the job market is facing unprecedented disruption, standing out is not an option — it is crucial for one’s career.

 

Many may not know where their career will land three to five years from now. This is why it is important and of value to connect with leaders and emerging leaders, as well as fellow stakeholders in multiple industries, associations and organizations. 

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link

 

Here are Five steps one would take to being the Best networker -

 

Treat networking as a journey. The best networkers have a different mindset about networking itself. They see it as a lifelong pursuit that’s part of their identity — not an activity to do occasionally. 

Networking is not transactional. Jumping into networking when you are looking for a new opportunity, promotion or investment is a bit late to the game. The building of a network must start now and be a never-ending outreach of giving and receiving.

 

Initiate Often. People who are amazing at networking are proactive about it and don’t shy away from initiating on a regular basis. Take the risk to connect and don’t depend on others reaching out. There is power in meeting new people but we cannot wait for our grandmothers to appear from Chicago to properly introduce us.

Be curious and listen. If you want to build a high-quality network, you have to genuinely care about people — the best networkers don’t fake it. And they tend to be amazing listeners, asking questions and letting others speak without talking about themselves non-stop.

People are attracted to people who find them attractive. You become more attractive, therefore more interesting, the more interest you show in others. And people connect with those they are interested in

Send thoughtful LinkedIn invites. LinkedIn is a great platform for making connections - especially in the age of Covid - but there is a right and wrong way to approach people online. The best networkers understand that personalized, authentic outreach is crucial.

When issuing invites on LinkedIn, add a personal message that is authentic. You are more likely to be considered as a connection if you personalize your invite. Otherwise, a cold invite can be seen as transactional.

Regularly touch base. Professionals who excel at networking regularly touch base. Yes, they have busy schedules. But they understand the importance of cultivating relationships and find ways to connect with their network on a regular basis — even if it means building a system around it in their schedule. Make it a habit to reach out to current and new contacts; it should be a weekly task.

These ideas should be a great addition to your networking skills and expand your access to various opportunities.

Attention to Details as a Job Skill

 

If you’re in the job market, chances are you’ve come across plenty of job descriptions where the requirements say something like, “must have attention to detail,” or some iteration of that phrase. Some of you might even have this desirable quality listed as a punchy bullet point on your resume.

 

Attention to detail continues to top the list for desirable qualifications because it clearly sets up expectations on both sides. You know what a prospective employer wants, and said employer also knows what you can bring to the table. Employees who have exceptional attention to detail, frequently require less supervision, and they don’t tend to make costly mistakes.   

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link 

According to experts, poor attention to detail not only impacts the individual but the organization as well. We live and work in a world where change and innovation are happening at a pace never before seen. It is easy to get sloppy when a lot is being thrown at you and where you are expected to make speedy decisions.

The result of not focusing enough attention on the details can be devastating professionally, and they will also have an impact on the company you work for. If “attention to detail” falls into your “weaknesses category”, and you skip over certain job descriptions for that reason, there are things you can do to improve it. 

Get Organized 

 

Whether it’s your calendar, your emails, or even your desk, one of the first steps to sharpening your attention to detail is to get organized. Knowing what’s on your calendar for the week ahead will ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines or meetings. Moreover, managing your inbox and clearing out digital clutter will allow you to prioritize what’s important. 

Make Lists 

This may sound like a cliché, no brainer because everyone does it — but that’s probably because it works. The good news is, it’s as easy as it sounds. Make a list of what you need to accomplish and check each item off as you complete it. And don’t think this is an amateur move. Everyone (even surgeons and pilots) needs a list, a well-designed checklist will lead to better outcomes.

Focus – Don’t Try To Multitask 

Attention is a finite internal resource, and research tells us time and again that multitasking is a myth and we’re not really good at it. While multitasking is often glorified, the truth is it splits our focus and diminishes our attention to detail. To maintain your focus, refer to your list (remember) and focus on one task at a time. 

 

Wise Leadership Inspires Engaged Employees

Today more than ever, organizations rely on the energy, commitment and engagement of their workforce in order to survive and thrive in the twenty-first century. Only 15% of employees worldwide are engaged in their jobs – meaning that they are emotionally invested in committing their time, talent and energy in adding value to their team and advancing the organization’s initiatives.  

Employee disengagement costs the United States upwards of $ 550 billion a year in lost productivity. So, one could see why this is both a serious problem that most leaders and managers face with today’s workforce and also an amazing opportunity for companies that learn to master the art of engagement. 

It is a common understanding of a vast majority of leaders that the employees are a company’s most important asset. But in reality, that is only true when the majority of the workforce is fully engaged in their work. If not, they are either adding minimal value or actively working against the organization. 

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link

The current business environment, and the world in general, is moving faster than it ever has before. Organizations across the globe are faced with more change than most can handle — in order to compete and dominate their segment they are required to grow faster often giving them less time to focus on managing all of their financial goals. They are forced to grow quickly with fewer resource - to do more with less. Leaders have to learn to excel in managing themselves, their teams and meeting organizational goals simultaneously. 

The Leader’s Role in Engagement 

Leaders improve engagement by defining and communicating a powerful vision for the organization. They hire and develop managers that are emotionally invested in the organization’s mission and vision and give them the resources to build great teams with the right people in the right roles. They empower. 

Decisive steps to take for improving employee engagement & hone strategic action-takers in one’s organization: 

Put everyone in the right role - Get the right people on the bus and make sure they are in the right roles. All talent acquisition and retention strategies have to be aligned with meeting company goals 

Give Them the Training - No manager or leader can expect to build a culture of trust and accountability —and much less improve engagement — without setting the team up for success. Proper training removes future obstacles

 

Task Meaningful Work - Engaged employees are doing meaningful work and have a clear understanding of how they contribute to the company’s mission, purpose and strategic objectives. If you don’t sort those details out quickly, they will leave. Again, this is why they first have to be placed in the right role

Check in Often - The days of simply relying on mid-year reviews for providing feedback are long gone. Today’s workforce craves regular feedback — which of course leads to faster course correction and reduces waste 

Again, these principles are not complex, but must be prioritized. Companies that get this right will drive greater financial returns, surpass their competitors and easily climb to the top of “the best places to work” lists.