One important characteristics of a leader is the ability to focus on what must be done, in the midst of real and/or imagined distractions. It is very easy to waste days, which can turn into weeks, without ever spending time on what is most important.
We can blame others, the current problems at work, family matters, or even a bad hair day as the reason for why we are not getting done what we need to get done. This gets us nowhere. There will always be distractions that can derail us if we let them.
The real goal is to not let these types of distractions effect our power to focus. I am struggling to find a way to write this so that it makes sense. I have experienced times in my life when it seems like I am floating along at a lazy pace. The floating period usually comes after I have exerted a huge amount of energy or completed a huge project. I float at the expense of new and exciting projects. Sometimes I even float right up until a new deadline approaches and then I have to work so hard just to catch up that I am tired again. At times I feel powerless to stop the float. I just keep floating even though I know it would be best to stand up and do something. The only way I ever get out of a float like this is by forcing myself to examine what is going on in my life. I must admit that sometimes I am satisfied floating, other times I am tired and I want to start focusing again on important matters.
I find it very useful to engage in a free-form writing exercise. During this exercise, I take inventory of what I like and what I don't like about my current situation. Then I visualize how I want it to be. Once I have done this, I am then able to create a plan of next steps and milestones that will help me get where I want to go. During each phase of this process, I write down all of the thoughts and ideas that enter my mind. I just write without thinking.
As I set these goals, I always ask myself one question, "is it worth the effort"? If I have trouble convincing myself I eliminate the goal. By doing this, I make sure I never commit to doing something that I really don't want to do. Then I make sure I review my goals every day to keep them directly in front of me. As a result, I almost always accomplish what I want to get done.
