Ways to make sure your 2020 vision doesn’t get lost in distraction

When Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland I am sure he had no idea that it would become such a metaphor for distraction.  These days, of course, we constantly talk of going down a rabbit hole when, despite all our good intentions, we find that we have wandered off course and don’t finish what we have started.

With all the modern tools for communication and interaction – mobile phones, tv and radio, social media, video conferencing – it is hardly surprising that it is hard to focus on one thing. If Carroll was alive today, he would think that Wonderland has become real.

The most valuable thing you own…

… is your attention. If you are able to focus on one thing – and focus on it through to completion – what does that mean for the things you are trying o achieve in life? Just imagine that for a moment. How much more productive would you be if you didn’t keep stopping and starting? How much more would you get dine if you didn’t need to stop and check social media every few minutes? How many projects would you actually finish if you didn’t get pulled in another direction?

I’ve been working on this subject with the members of my coaching programme this month and the results they have been getting by mastering the art of getting s*** done have been amazing to see.

Of course, having a clear goal is a massive advantage. If you know what you are working towards and are really committed to it, your focus is on what is important and you are more likely to get there. Just as long as you aren’t Arambhashura.

Arambha… what now?

There’s nothing like a spot of Sanskrit to grab your attention, is there?

[I wonder how many people have just googled the word and navigated away from here. See how easy it is to get distracted?]

‘Arambhashura’ means hero in the beginning. The concept is ancient – someone who starts a heroic journey, excited and motivated, and then loses interest and returns to the life of their past. I’m sure you can think of occasions where you’ve done this yourself. That gym membership that didn’t get used after the first month, the half-read books on the shelf, the incomplete work projects….

So how do you get beyond the initial excitement and keep going?

Take a look at what takes you away from what needs to be done. Sometimes it is a ‘thing’ – checking your phone or scrolling through social media; sometimes it is a ‘who’ – someone who has different goals to you and keeps saying ‘skip that, let’s do this instead’; most often it is you. The doubts and worries that we all have that guide us to stay where we are rather than take the leap to become something better.

The more aware you can become of what is getting in your way, the more you will be able to anticipate and put plans in place to prevent them from stopping you.

Being unstoppable is all you need to do whatever it is you want!

If you want to know more about how to be unstoppable in  your business and your life, then take a look at https://coaching.petecohen.com/ to learn more.