What keeps you focused?

19 replies
I was sitting here thinking today, When I first stated in IM what was the one thing that totally killed me and what changed it for the better to where I am today.

I would have to say that was focus, There is so much out there to join and learn that your honestly pulled in 100 different directions at one time. What all of these programs lacked though where action plans. Ok now I know the system but what and how do I put it into action now?

Every day now I write up action plans, What I need to do and get done and then stick to it. If I get it done thats when I go off of my path and learn something new.

If you care to share what is your daily action plan? What do you do to keep focused and really earn money online?
#focused
  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    I use an Excel File and Color Code Blocks of time. Like...Mon, Wed and Fri is Google Adwords from 1pm to 3pm. Twitter is 8am to 9am. I also only work 50 min hours and take 10 min breaks.
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    • Profile picture of the author radhika
      I have a small book on my desk. I write all things to do first. Important things I keep a star next to it ... means it should be given priority than others.

      If I finish it, I strike it off with single line, so still I can see what it is.

      Sometimes I may not be able to complete it as planned. Then I put a red mark next to it, so I can finish again. (To be honest there are as many red marks as single lines )

      .
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  • Profile picture of the author misterkailo
    I make sure I build relationship with subscribers in my opt-in list, and make sure I can help everyone who wants to be helped. That helps me stay motivated and focus because my goal is to help as many people as possible without charging a penny.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    This is a little off the beaten path, but I've found that Brad Gosse's focus and concentration MP3 (in the WSO section) has really helped me to focus on the task at hand, instead of being tempted by email, IM, browsing other useless sites, etc. I only need to play it 1-2 hours a day to keep me in the right frame of mind for the rest of the day.
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  • Profile picture of the author 4freedom
    Begin with the end in mind.

    Meaning, take a few minutes and have a serious heart-to-heart conversation with yourself. Design out your perfect day... your perfect week... your perfect life. How would you be spending your time and with whom? How much money will you need to achieve that result and how much time are you willing to give up to make it happen?

    Once you have the END RESULT in mind, then measure everything you are getting ready to do against that end result. Is it taking you closer to or further away from your result? Are you building a business or a cash flow?

    Even more powerful - dig deep and discover the EMOTIONAL reason why producing the result is important to you. For example, you might THINK you want a new house with new furniture because you like nice things. Dig deep and you might discover you were embarrassed as a kid and didn't feel comfortable bringing friends over because they seemed to have nicer stuff... so the REAL EMOTIONAL REASON that will keep you going through the tough times is your desire to never feel embarrassed or to give your kids room to feel embarrassed ever.

    What fun!
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    • Profile picture of the author abednego
      Originally Posted by 4freedom View Post

      Begin with the end in mind.

      ...
      Whats a good end to think of for a first project? "getting a sale"?
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  • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
    You are absolutely spot on that lack of focus will kill you.

    I used to have 3 hour spells where I started on facebook then ended up reading and listening to all sorts of marketers selling me crap and get rich quick schemes.

    It's really easy to go off track if you don't 100% believe where the tracks are taking you.

    On a practical note. I divide my tasks up into

    > Marketing
    > Prospecting
    > Blogging
    > Twittering
    > Meetings
    > Office Admin

    If i'm finding i'm doing the same task over and over and it doesn't need my involvement, I get it outsourced.
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    • Profile picture of the author Blase
      What keeps me focused?

      A white board on my wall.
      A timer on my desk.

      My wife!
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      "Nothing Happens Until Something Is Sold"
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  • Profile picture of the author jbode
    Getting focused is all about clearing your head from all the 'noise' just spend some time and write out everything you want to do and whatever else is on your mind then pick one project that is the most important or exciting to you and schedule it out - I use Google Calender (I don't like to write by hand)
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  • Profile picture of the author TheDebtEliminator
    Hello Sean,

    Make 3-lists to help you focus

    First ... Must do today in order of importance

    Second ... Jobs that are not as important, but that you want done

    Third ... Research possible things to do in the future

    Stay on list number one until completed and control your browsing or answering email until it is finished

    All the Best
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    • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
      Originally Posted by sdentrepreneur View Post

      I use an Excel File and Color Code Blocks of time. Like...Mon, Wed and Fri is Google Adwords from 1pm to 3pm. Twitter is 8am to 9am. I also only work 50 min hours and take 10 min breaks.
      Great idea! Especially the one about taking breaks!

      Originally Posted by radhika View Post

      I have a small book on my desk. I write all things to do first. Important things I keep a star next to it ... means it should be given priority than others.

      If I finish it, I strike it off with single line, so still I can see what it is.

      Sometimes I may not be able to complete it as planned. Then I put a red mark next to it, so I can finish again. (To be honest there are as many red marks as single lines )

      .
      I like yours too!

      Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

      This is a little off the beaten path, but I've found that Brad Gosse's focus and concentration MP3 (in the WSO section) has really helped me to focus on the task at hand, instead of being tempted by email, IM, browsing other useless sites, etc. I only need to play it 1-2 hours a day to keep me in the right frame of mind for the rest of the day.
      I've got to check that one out.

      One thing that helps me is an audio I got from Jason Fladlien and Robert Plank's (now Dennis Becker's) membership site -- it really helped me stay focused on the task. But I'm always looking to improve on things...

      Writing things down physically helps me too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    Providing for my 3 kids keeps me focused.
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  • Profile picture of the author The Oilman
    I use the google tasks thing in my gmail.

    But I also work slowly but many hours a day.

    Incoming sales also keep me focused and creates momentum.
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  • Profile picture of the author thomashoi
    Before I began my list of tasks every morning, I go to the mirror and speak to myself

    "What the heck do i want out of my life?"

    Then came the answers:

    1. I want to share the gospel in third world countries
    2. I want to feed the hungry children who are dying everyday
    3. I want to bring hope to the less fortunate
    4. I want to have a nice house to live
    5. I want to own a private jet without going through the customs
    6. I want to have my own racing team
    ..
    100. Travel all around the world still making money on auto-pilot ....

    and i realize all of them need a resource called "Money"

    then i will automatically get myself to complete however tasks i need to do for
    the day...
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  • Profile picture of the author aceshigh
    Ya, I think every IM person and entrepreneurial type is like that. Because I think what happens is that entrepreneurs fall in love with the idea. Then when the honeymoon is over and it's time to actually do some work, it quickly is no longer this love affair. Then I think on some unconscious level your mind start looking for new ideas so you can get that high again of having the next break through idea. I think that's where either having a team in place that can actually take your ideas and run with them is good. Otherwise, if you're a one man show then you just have to focus on a project for a while and be prepared to give it at at least a good year before you decide if it's worth continuing or not. I like to keep a white board beside my computer where I have writen down the 5 most important things on my agenda. That way no matter what the most important actions are right in front of me at all times. The other thing that came to mind the other day is that when you got a good idea, often I think your mind can play tricks on you. Like you start to think "I wonder if this business will be successful?" But the practicality of it in most cases is if you're willing to do the work, modify and correct your strategy, just keep working through the doubt, and keep your focus on getting the project completed then generally the business idea will at least stand a reasonable chance at success.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mili_D
    I have two Action Plan one is on my door and other is in the kitchen. Every week I take out some time and written down what needs to be done for the week, leaving a blank space for me to fill out what I have missed out on for that week or day. This allows me to monitor my progress and see where i am lacking on. I fit in short breaks which is every useful such as going to the local gym and going out for lunch. Remember don't lock yourself up, thinking you can get a lot more done by just sitting in front of the computer and not wasting time outdoors! Trust me it's better to go out and get some fresh. Also to keep me focus I have written down my goal in what I want to accomplish by next year.
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    • Profile picture of the author Glassjaw009
      I always use the "get the ball rolling" technique to get me started. I put in some work into whatever method I'm using, and when I start to make a profit, it motivates me to keep going. Soon enough, the ball is rolling faster and it's unstoppable. Scheduling helps some people, but I just sit down, drink a lot of coffee and get focused.

      Hope this helped.
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