The Power of Focus: Stop Multi-tasking, Start Living

focus-eye I’m a mom.

I’m a business owner.

I’m a wife, and I hope I’m a pretty decent friend, too.

I’m also a recovering multi-tasker.

Most days, I still have plenty on my plate, but I’ve learned how to NOT multi-task and actually accomplish more.

It’s not really a secret. It’s just focus.

“Just focus” is like saying “just a million dollars”. It’s relative, I know.

But focus has been the theme for 2009. And it’s been a struggle – as I’m sure it has been for many folks trying to keep all their plates spinning this year.

I’ve been experimenting with different methods to help me gain more clarity and focus in my work and my life – and some things worked while others failed miserably.

And lest you think I live in a bubble, let’s recap some of my major events this year that tried their darndest to “distract” me from my focus.

My oldest son, as many of you are aware, has struggled with school problems, physical health problems, and mental health issues for the bulk of 2009. The responsibility for his care has primarily been mine, and one I take seriously.

Doctor appointment? Med review? Therapy intake? Hospital transfers, MRI’s, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork?

I’m there. Count me in.

He’s my son. It’s what mom’s do, right?

I also have another child (two if you count my husband some days). He’s a toddler, and has all of the typical toddler demands.

The beauty of working from home is that I get the joy and privilege of handling all those needs most days. I’m grateful for the blessing of being able to be home.

My direct sales company shut down, forcing me to rebuild my business with a new company. I now have nearly doubled my profits from all of last year in about 6 months with my new company (and not really trying too hard, to be honest).

My coaching business has launched an online community, two summits, a live event, three modular courses, plus my monthly mentoring calls – AND now I’ve agreed to work with Mark Joyner’s Simpleology Coaching group as they try their wings and take flight.

I’ve jumped in on twitter with both feet and now control multiple blogs, newsletters and multimedia content.

I hire a coach or two, joined a mastermind group that didn’t work out, and continued to stretch my brain with info products, distance learning and a live event or two.

And that’s only what I remember off the top of my head.

Then, just the other day a client said to me “I don’t know how you do it all.”

I have a confession to make.

I never knew there was an alternative. Seriously.

Now, I’ve enlisted the help of several part time assistants, a nanny and even a housekeeper from time to time, so it’s not like I don’t know how to delegate.

I just figured if you want to make things happen, you go out and do them. Take action. See what works, correct what doesn’t, and do the best you can along the way.

So if I want to create a mastermind program, I do. If I want to host a live event, I do. If I want to write a book, I do.

Does it happen all at once? Nope. It can take weeks from the time an idea hits my head until you see the result of it.

But sometimes it’s much faster.

The Direct Sales Super Summit is a great example. On a Thursday night, I had this idea for a telesummit, and then I started sending emails. By the end of the day Sunday, 8 of my 15 speakers were confirmed.

Sometimes we make things harder than they have to be.

When I was a kid, Rubik’s cube was all the rage. I was the one that always took it apart and put it back together the right way. My thinking was, ‘why make this harder than you have to? Sometimes processes get in the way of getting an answer that works.’

When I see an objective – whether it’s a problem that needs to be solved, or a goal that needs to be met, my mind has always been wired to find the “quickest, safest, legal, route” as my driver’s training instructor used to say.

So I’ve designed tools to help me get from A to B as quickly as possible.

Is it always perfect? Nah. But I use myself as a human guinea pig so that I know something can work before I unleash it on the unsuspecting world at large.

In essence, while I’ve done lots of things, I’ve worked hard this year to STOP multitasking.

It takes work – I’m a recovering multitasker.

But when I stop and focus on only one thing at a time (even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes), I accomplish more – and I do it faster.

I’ve become so fascinated with this phenomenon, that I’m developing a whole site dedicated to the ideas of focus, clarity and using brainstorming to free your mind to leapfrog instead of ladder climb.

More details will be revealed in coming days, but I hope you’ll share your thoughts below.

Buffer

Consuela Taylor

Lisa, I just read your article, “Lessons My Son Taught Me,” in my direct sales professionals newsletter. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in kindergarten, also, although I was pretty sure he had it way before then. He is 10, 4th grade, and I know what you mean about the need for structure being absolutely necessary in their lives, BUT how too much structure can also bring everything tumbling down with frustration, resentment, arguing, etc., on both our parts. Being in the 4th grade, more is expected of them socially/maturity, academically. It's an almost impossible balancing act. Being a single mother trying to work to keep food in our mouths and pay the bills and keep up with counseling/ psychiatrist appointments, being called into school for behavior/academic problems, has added a little more stress to everything.

Thank you for these words, “There are times when we can't handle it all ourselves – sometimes because we just don't know what “it all” really is. Calling in reinforcements isn't an admission of defeat. It's an extra set of helping hands to make light work of solving a problem.” I, too, used to look at the destination your road has led you to as a defeat, but I now see it as another path we might have to go down in making sure he's as well prepared as possible for adulthood.

I can certainly understand the ache in your heart for him having to be away from you, but I can feel your relief in knowing you're doing something that's ultimately going to be the best for him and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for writing the article. Even though I KNOW there are many kids out there with ADHD, sometimes as a parent you feel like you're the only one going through it and no one could possibly understand.

Don't we just love our boys that can be frustrating as all get-out one minute and the next have you bent over with laughter at their wit or wondering in amazement when they impart some pearl of wisdom way beyond their years? lol

Take care. Bless you.
Consuela Taylor

Lisa, I just read your article, “Lessons My Son Taught Me,” in my direct sales professionals newsletter. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in kindergarten, also, although I was pretty sure he had it way before then. He is 10, 4th grade, and I know what you mean about the need for structure being absolutely necessary in their lives, BUT how too much structure can also bring everything tumbling down with frustration, resentment, arguing, etc., on both our parts. Being in the 4th grade, more is expected of them socially/maturity, academically. It’s an almost impossible balancing act. Being a single mother trying to work to keep food in our mouths and pay the bills and keep up with counseling/ psychiatrist appointments, being called into school for behavior/academic problems, has added a little more stress to everything.

Thank you for these words, “There are times when we can’t handle it all ourselves – sometimes because we just don’t know what “it all” really is. Calling in reinforcements isn’t an admission of defeat. It’s an extra set of helping hands to make light work of solving a problem.” I, too, used to look at the destination your road has led you to as a defeat, but I now see it as another path we might have to go down in making sure he’s as well prepared as possible for adulthood.

I can certainly understand the ache in your heart for him having to be away from you, but I can feel your relief in knowing you’re doing something that’s ultimately going to be the best for him and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for writing the article. Even though I KNOW there are many kids out there with ADHD, sometimes as a parent you feel like you’re the only one going through it and no one could possibly understand.

Don’t we just love our boys that can be frustrating as all get-out one minute and the next have you bent over with laughter at their wit or wondering in amazement when they impart some pearl of wisdom way beyond their years? lol

Take care. Bless you.
Consuela Taylor

Lisa, I just read your article, “Lessons My Son Taught Me,” in my direct sales professionals newsletter. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in kindergarten, also, although I was pretty sure he had it way before then. He is 10, 4th grade, and I know what you mean about the need for structure being absolutely necessary in their lives, BUT how too much structure can also bring everything tumbling down with frustration, resentment, arguing, etc., on both our parts. Being in the 4th grade, more is expected of them socially/maturity, academically. It's an almost impossible balancing act. Being a single mother trying to work to keep food in our mouths and pay the bills and keep up with counseling/ psychiatrist appointments, being called into school for behavior/academic problems, has added a little more stress to everything.

Thank you for these words, “There are times when we can't handle it all ourselves – sometimes because we just don't know what “it all” really is. Calling in reinforcements isn't an admission of defeat. It's an extra set of helping hands to make light work of solving a problem.” I, too, used to look at the destination your road has led you to as a defeat, but I now see it as another path we might have to go down in making sure he's as well prepared as possible for adulthood.

I can certainly understand the ache in your heart for him having to be away from you, but I can feel your relief in knowing you're doing something that's ultimately going to be the best for him and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for writing the article. Even though I KNOW there are many kids out there with ADHD, sometimes as a parent you feel like you're the only one going through it and no one could possibly understand.

Don't we just love our boys that can be frustrating as all get-out one minute and the next have you bent over with laughter at their wit or wondering in amazement when they impart some pearl of wisdom way beyond their years? lol

Take care. Bless you.

The Power of Focus: Stop Multi-tasking, Start Living

Affilliates/Sponsors

About Me

Lisa’s Notebook

Lisa’s Music