Narrow Your Focus

What a great day to be focused. As is every day! Martin Luther King, Jr. was very focused as a leader of the American civil rights movement and as a Christ follower. Let’s take a moment to get focused on some words of encouragement before the phone starts ringing or notifications start going off and before the rest of the world starts buzzing.  Let’s not lose focus here. 

Here’s a great way to narrow your focus and to start your day:

• Focus on something – the Word
• Get focused – on the Word
• Do not get out of focus – with the Word
• Stay laser focused – in the Word
• Narrow the focus – by applying the Word

Proverbs 4:25-27  MSG

Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.  Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.  Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Don’t Look Back

Wow, what great promises out of Provervbs when staying focused! Boston sang it best with their song, “Don’t Look Back” and there is so much truth to that in losing focus when looking back. Look at Lot’s wife who ‘looked back’ at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned into a pillar of salt – Genesis 19:26 NIV.

Focus (noun) – the state or quality of having or producing a clear visual definition.

People who are good at being focused on various things in their lives have the following in common:

• They get it
• They want it
• They have the capacity to accomplish it

This is a process from EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).  I use this system and platform with the owners and teams I work with. I even apply it personally to what I want and need to accomplish.  Side note – if you are a business owner you should be applying the GWC to your employees!

GWC – Get It, Want It, the Capacity to Do It

I live by GWC and coach to it.  This process finds someone who is focused in a particular way but also emphasizes the capacity to be able to do it. 

Sadly, many ‘get it’ and they ‘want it,’ but they don’t have the capacity to do it.  Many times, even in having the capacity/skills to do it. But even so, if they are so overburdened by personal situations or an overbearing workload, their work becomes subpar because they can’t focus – their time (or lack of it) gives them no capacity, no focus.

What Focused People Do 

• Get rid of any noise
• Determine the ROI
• Create routine and discipline
• Pick one thing (no multi-tasking)
• Stay in the flow (usually 45 -60 minutes – Energy Management)

Proverbs 4:25  ESV

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Again, another verse in Proverbs is great at stating the importance of focus. So I will use myself as an example – sorry, that’s all you get for now.  😊

Eliminating Distractions

I get focused by eliminating distractions. 

• My morning devotionals (which you are reading a sample of) are at a very quiet time.
• I start at times before bed but my energy level is low…so I start with a few thoughts that Jesus has been whispering to me.
• I complete those thoughts in the morning, starting very early and first thing while my energy level is high and I hear and flow the best.
• I have already determined my ROI – the Return On Investment
• I already know that I am going to get out of doing this, not just for myself, but for other lives that I have an impact on.
• I’ve created a routine – every morning Monday through Friday
• Am I always inspired?  No, but once I get started I get into a flow.
• I stay focused on one thing and make the one thing the one thing – I let it flow.
• I don’t get distracted, even by Carmen (not that I don’t want to be distracted by her) because it takes me out of that flow.
  • Ever worked in a cubicle space?  Yes?  Then you know what I mean by distractions. 
• Noise-reduction
  • headphones (if allowed) are a great help with this.  😊
• After a solid time of focus, your energy begins to wane, so be sure to step away to re-energize (Energy Management again).

Focus for Every Area of Your Life

Psalm 119:15  ESV

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

So I can’t just take this focus thing in my every-day-walking-around-kind-of-life and separate it out to only one part of my life.  My life is my life whether I am with family, by myself, or working.  I want to accomplish that which Jesus has for me today.  What I am saying is that this isn’t just a work thing.

Colossians 3:2  ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

I learned years ago, whether it was with my business, with me and Carmen, or for me personally, I had to narrow my focus if in fact I was going to widen my vision (greater impact).  So narrow your focus in order to widen your vision.

Challenge of the Week 

Be focused on Jesus in order to be focused on the task at hand.  He is your life-boat, your work-boat, your home-boat, and whatever other boat you are in.  Your focus on Him will produce a great ROI in every part of your life. And oh, the ripple effect is so good. So be it.