What techniques do you use to stay focused?

I don't. I'm about as unfocused as can be. That's why I'm here reading.

Eric:

Unsubscribe from as many lists as you can.

Go into the walk in wardrobe.. look at the missus' shoes from floor to ceiling... and I get right back to work.

Nothing spurs me on like the money she spends

Peace

Jay

Hi,

Stop checking email every 5 minutes thinking your missing something....

Jeff Casmer

To do lists, excel spreadsheets and other organizational methods.

Hell, i'm building up an app right now, designing out the interface that will make me more in control of all of my domains. I'm starting to feel a little to spread out and nothing spurs innovation like need, lol. Focus focus focus

What keeps me...

... wait -- what was the question?

Oooooh! Look at the pretty birdie outside the window. Gotta run!

I would definitely have to say coffee, 100%.

The same is true for me as well. I start on a website or project full steam ahead, but then I get side tracked by another project that looks more enticing! I think what I'm going to do is sell off the website that I currently have and then just focus on one project.

I think one of the keys to staying focused is organization. The more organized your project is, the easier it is to get your work done.....and the easier it is to get your work done the more likely it will be that you'll want to do the work.

Good luck!

Kevin

IMADD®

Internet
Marketing
Attention
Deficit
Disorder

I'd give you the details, but someone just sent me the next "big thing" and I gotta stop what I'm doing and jump all over it before it's too late!

John

I stay focused by having a simple marketing schedule and doing only 1 marketing task per day.

I'm focused at getting unfocused ;-)

So if there's something that needs to be done and something hot comes along I tell my self that I'll do it after I finish what I'm doing. It's hard because online opportunities are just so many and everyone of them has the potential to make you rich..but think about it..how many times have you jumped from one campaign to another and earn nothing or minimal income.

So why not change your pattern this time and just let the hot offers go and focus on your current campaign. Somebody said that in the internet if you're gonna do something, do it till the end. I just can't recall who said it.

Anyway if things fail there's so much new methods available..so why hurry up..

All Success!

Omar Diaz

Awesome replies everyone, keep them coming!

It's good to see that I am not alone on this.

@Tommen what do you use for your schedule? Do you just keep a list or are you using something more advanced?

@Steven unsubscribing from many of the lists I was on has been done. thx.

@JayXtreme and @MichaelHiles, I don't have that "wife software" yet you guys have been using to stay focused, but I'll look in to it

I visualize the ferrari/porshe that I'm going to buy. I already have the keys to the car and I'm just taking that long walk to the car. I'm very materialistic.

Putting what motivates me to do IM, in vision of my computer. That helps keep me on track and not get too distracted. Not being on too many mailing lists. Time block my time and stay as organized as possible, to name a few.

I think you have to be aware of the different
ways to make money online and then when you
find that niche that you are comfortable with..then
you can get focused on that 100% to see if it
is indeed a winner....

The best technique I use to stay focused is called Power Blocking. I learned this way back when I was 18 (20 years ago) when I sold real estate. It was taught to me by one of the "old timers" in the office.

It's a simple but powerful time management and achievement technique. Power Blocking simply states is you devote a predetermine amount of time to a predetermined action and nothing else. Here is a great example,

7- 8 AM Check and reply to emails
8 - 9 AM Blog postings
9:15 - 9:30 Break
9:30 - 10:30 Website Design
10:30 -11:30 Graphic design
etc.

To get the best use of power blocking is not to do any activity for longer than an hour. An hour is enough time to get into flow but it also puts time pressure on you to get the activity done.

During your power block, turn off the phone, don't check your email, don't answer the door or play with the kids, use this time to stay focused.

Give it a try for a few days and let me know how it works for you.

Thanks,

Andy

IMADD I think I have this also.

There are some good ideals here I hope IMADD don't get in my way again.

ENERGY DRINKS! I'm a little buzzed from one right now.

I just think about What i Get after i get done with the planned task

I just posted this in "The Wall" thread...

I make lists. That's the only way I get things done. On the list I state the goal. The steps needed to achieve that goal and the deadline with a date and time. Then I go to work.

Crossing out milestones as I achieve them is a rewarding feeling. Accomplishing the goal feels even better; especially when there is a payday attached to it.

Get a notebook! I know exactly what you mean. Have your techniques organized on paper, make notes of what you did and what needs to be done next. Once I started doing this everything became easier.

The techniques that work for me;

unsubscribe from most of the lists I'm on
Do the days work (the stuff that builds the business) before checking my inbox
before visiting forums
before doing Twitter
.........etc, etc
Ignore new product sales pages (don't even read them!)

11 Ways of staying focused by: Dave Cheong
1.Having well defined goals
2.Breaking things into bite size chunks
3.Prioritizing constantly
4.Tracking progress vigorously
5.Planning ahead without fail
6.Rewarding myself when warranted
7.Having positive pattern in my routine
8.Removing distractions
9.Blocking out some time
10.Keeping the results clear in mind
11.Enlisting my family and friends for help.
I'm also trying to follow this. lol

I just try to do one thing at a time and not let anything else interrupt me, until i'm finished.

It works most of the time.

I think it comes down to finding a system that suits your personality and your motivation level.

Sometimes you can find a system , but if you are not truly motivated then it will not work.

So I would say, being motivated is the most important aspect of staying focused. If you truly want to succeed you will stay focused until you reach that goal.

And obviously setting tangible/specific longterm/shortterm goals for your business will help you to stay motivated.

Money.. It keeps me focussed..

here's a list I found on the Franklin Covey site:

1. Get undesirable tasks out of the way first.
Maybe it's simple psychology or maybe it's just human nature, but if you get the "unpleasant" tasks out of the way first, your day is left open to everything good that follows. Plus, you won't have a looming sense of dread following you around all day.

2. Give yourself time to breathe each day.
Nobody said that productivity could only be achieved by filling every available minute of your day. In fact, taking a moment to do "nothing" can do as much to recharge your batteries as a short walk or nap.

3. Look for the joy in your job.
Disliking your surroundings causes undue stress and unhappiness, which affect both your personal and professional life in the long run--not to mention your health. There is a reason you chose your job in the first place; reconnect with that purpose and focus on the pleasure and pride you get from doing a good job.

4. Pay attention to your energy levels.
Not everyone is more productive in the morning; some people are at their best early afternoon or even late in the day. Pay attention to when you feel most alert and try to schedule your most important tasks during that time.

5. Don't multitask.
There is a popular misconception that you're more productive if you can do many things at once. The truth is, often employees inadvertently sacrifice accuracy for speed. Bottom line: Just because you complete a million tasks doesn't mean you did them all well. For greater overall productivity, concentrate on doing one thing right instead of doing many things quickly.

6. Spread the good vibes.
Don't be stingy with thanks or praise for people who make your job (and your life) easier every day. Make the effort to express genuine gratitude when someone helps you out, and you will receive good feelings in return.


best wishes,


Jon.

If you guys need help staying focused with a system then pm me and I'll give you access to some proprietary software and blue print system that I let my $397 month coaching students use to stay laser focused and to help propell their business to new levels.

The only thing I ask in return is that you provide feedback that I can use when I open this system to the public within a week or so...

Frank Bruno

Just complete the current project before starting another. I create a task list on a whiteboard where i write all the tasks required to complete the current project.Then i just follow this whiteboard to do these tasks one by one instead of following my email or memory to do my tasks. As far as new offers are concerned, i keep a separate email for all the gurus on whom email lists i am at. I only go for a new project if it is by a very trusted personality and has a convincing business model in it. If i find such a project i note it down on the same whiteboard in another list which begins once my current list is done. If i have to watch a dvd by someone, etc. i also put this task in that list. I touch such tasks either on completion of my current project or during a time lag between two tasks in my current project. I also have a to do list on the same whiteboard where i list all my offline tasks like new broadband connection, backing up my data, formating windows, credit card bill pay, etc.

SKWEBSOLS... GREAT ADVICE.

Here's the best thing to help you stay focused (caution, one NSFW word in the audio):

As mentioned in other posts I have unsubscribed from several unnecessary email lists and also limit how frequently I check my email. I try to work on a project only once during the day and then move onto the next. I have found that working on one project for anywhere from 2-4 hours a day and then moving on to the next one keeps my enthusiasm high and my mind fresh.

As I am currently in a PhD program I have had to learn new methods of time management and, at the same time, learn to work at a high mental level without completely burning myself out (and I've come real close ). Overall, I would say that necessity wedded to discipline is what we all need to stay focused on what is really important.

To remind myself of this basic paradigm, I like to say that I must filter and focus. That is, filter out the minutia and focus on the major.

Try setting deadlines that have real consequences... IE tell clients that you will have it done by a certain time and if its not done, then its free of charge. This would be a win win for the client and for you it would give you motivation to work harder. Plus your reputation is at stake. I would also say, only have one window open at a time, this way you dont get tempted to toggle back and forth.

Also... be realistic with what you can accomplish.. it is not very realistic to think that you can sit down and work for eight hours straight without taking a break, try working in intervals, work for an hour or two hours, take a half hour off, work two... rinse and repeat. Youll be more productive while you are working if you know you have time set aside to mess around.

Eric,

Staying Focused is in my mind is a form of criticism... Either observed by another or
a self-reflection.

Goals and goal setting for me usually keeps me doing enough... for my own good.

I put a slightly out of reach target in my money book and then refer to it a couple
times each day...

My plan was never to work myself to death... but rather afford a lifestyle

If I did want the 'kill myself quick' method... I could always get a job.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,

Rob

You gotta set goals and reach each one first before moving on. Start out small then expand. I found you need to have a regular schedule, if you don't then time will be less productive and harder to put in the hrs.

REMIND Yourself why you started internet marketing in the first place!

For me so I don't have to work the 9-5, so I can spend more time with my daughter, family and friends.......oh yeah I forgot the #1 reason $$$$$$

Pick out a mentor in your industry or niche and learn from them and stay in touch with their blogs or sites. You will learn from them and you will also be inspired/motivated from their posts and success. If you aren't then find someone else to look upto.

You have to start your day out right. Get yourself in a Focused Money Mode. Make sure you start your day with the Positive, Confident Energy you will need to carry on the tasks for the day. Never think negative, always think your ideas will work....not maybe they'll work.

I don't know how experienced you are but one of my main motivators is checking out my sites progress and sales. Seeing your ideas in the works and then watching them succeed is an awesome experience.

I personally wouldn't buy any software or etc... to help me stay focused or motivated other than buying High PR backlinks or seo tools that help me stay above the rest of the pack.

Good Luck!