Four Steps to Increase the Power of Your Focus -- By Anne Bachrach

Living your life without practicing The Power of Focus, is like trying to hit the bull's eye of a target you can't see. You can spend hours launching arrows, only to miss the target entirely. You become exhausted and frustrated when your repeated efforts don't show the results you are trying to achieve. This is what it feels like to operate without The Power of Focus.

To get to where you want to be, you must hold clear in your mind what you most want. Your subconscious mind is a powerful, goal-achieving machine, but it can't lead you to your desired goal, if you don't provide it with a specific target. If it doesn't have a clear and specific target, it can't get you there. As Stephen Covey would say, you must begin with the end in mind.

The Power of Focus is the practice of focusing on the 'right' tasks at hand, while minimizing distractions that take your focus away from your goals. It will improve time management, professional and personal performance, task efficiency, overall life balance, and provide your mind the information it needs to get you to the bull's eye.

When you focus on the 'right' activities that lead to 'big' goal achievement, you will succeed. A client of mine set a goal she was afraid to set because she had never been successful at achieving it before. We brainstormed a list of what we thought were the 'right' activities she needed to do in order to achieve this particular goal. She got focused on these activities, did them, and exceeded her goal! The same thing can happen for you when you focus on the 'right' activities.

Step 1. Create a Long-Term Goal List ...

What are your Long-Term Goals within the next 3-5 years? Within 10 years? They can be anything you want - but they must be what you really want. Your Long-Term Goals should go far beyond your comfort zone and how you would ideally like to see your life. Again, asking to retire rich isn't specific enough - you must include as many details as possible along with the date you would like to achieve each goal.

Step 2. Create a Short-Term Goal List ...

What are your Short-Term Goals? Within one week? Within 3 months? Whatever they are, include specific dates down to the month, day and year. Prioritize your short-term goals and put the goal that is most important to you at the top of the list. When you finish the most important things, move them off your list and do the next one, then the next one.

It isn't the one that is the easiest to do and the one with the least amount of discomfort. It is the one that is the most important to do first that will have the biggest impact on your overall success. Maybe there is a goal you would like to achieve, but you're not totally convinced you can do it. How do you know if you don't try? The mind is a goal-achieving machine and can help you do more than you think.

Hang your Short- and Long-Term Goals up where you will see them frequently, even many times throughout the day. Remain mindful of your goals as you go about your day and read them aloud every morning and every evening before going to sleep. Your goal lists serve two purposes. First, it uses The Power of Focus to help you concentrate on what you DO want so you can work on making it a reality. Secondly, they serve as positive reinforcements. When you can cross off a goal because you achieved it - you feel good! Then you have room to add new goals.

Step 3. Create a Daily Task List ...

At the end of each day, create your Task List for the following day. Prioritize your tasks in order of importance, with the most important being at the top of the list. The following day, start with the number one item and work your way down the list. At the end of the day, you will have completed your tasks with improved organization and efficiency.

This is the part where most people run into trouble - they hate making a task list! And that's OK, you don't have to like it - but it is necessary for your success. Why? Because successful people practice The Power of Focus every day and a Daily Task List is part of that regiment. You must be an active participant in your life and take responsibility for those things that you must do. And it's easier to do that when your tasks are staring at you in the face! You can't conveniently forget about them...You suddenly become accountable for your actions, and knowing that this is all part of the process of becoming successful.

Step 4. Calendar Everything and Honor Thy Calendar ...

Once you have your tasks listed, put all your activities on your calendar. Determine how much time it takes to do each activity and place them on your calendar. A good rule of thumb is to add a bit more time to what you think as it may actually take you longer. If you are like me, I always think I can accomplish more than I actually can in the time allotted. To prevent you from falling behind or feeling frustrated if you do take longer than you think, just give yourself a bit more time up front. If you complete the activity ahead of schedule, you can easily move on to the next task.

The Power of Focus is more than just goal-setting exercises. It is a process in which you develop a crystal-clear vision of where you want to be, so your goal-achieving machine can make it a reality. Remember, your subconscious mind is a goal-achieving machine. It is exactly that - a machine. It reacts to the information fed to it - no emotion, no judgment. This works to your advantage or disadvantage. The subconscious mind doesn't know how to judge the information it receives, it only reacts to it.

Whatever you feed your mind will become your reality. This is why practicing The Power of Focus every day is so important. Focus on your goals, and your subconscious mind will actually support you in taking the right actions to get you to your goals.

When you are living with your goals in mind, your subconscious mind is working to make it a reality. Practice The Power of Focus in your daily life and give your mind the chance to do what it does best - be a goal-achieving machine. Use the Power of Focus to achieve all your goals and live your dreams!
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Your Goal is Unimportant, Yet Absolutely Necessary By James Ray

Seem confusing? Paradoxical? Actually, goals (or as I like to call them, "intentions") are a paradox in that they're nothing more than an illusion. A transparent veneer behind which true reality hides.

What do I mean?

Well, we've been conditioned to believe we must control the physical plane. The more money, toys and possessions you have, the more valuable you are as a person. This is totally false and yet... somewhat true. (It's OK if you're totally confused right now.)

Stick with me as I pull it together for you...

What you have and what you possess have nothing to do with who you are. Not really. And yet, your accomplishments are a valuable measuring device of your level of consciousness.

It takes a bigger person to beat the odds like Donald Trump, going millions of dollars in debt and still rebounding. It takes a bigger person to go bankrupt several times like Walt Disney and still build a Disneyland. To build a Microsoft like Bill Gates and then becoming even more active in pursuing your creative passion. To overcome a childhood of abuse and molestation like Oprah Winfrey, turning it around to become the world's first African-American woman billionaire. A bigger visionary to carry a $10,000,000 check in your wallet and visualize receiving it while living in your broken down van.

Jim Carrey's visualization became his realization.

Are these people perfect? I can't be the judge of that, but what I do know is that their physical accomplishments are indicative of their intentions and the level of power and consciousness in the area that they pursue.

Intentions are a paradox in that they ultimately are unnecessary and yet absolutely necessary. Regardless of who you are or how you're applying yourself... you and I ultimately have ONE goal: GROWTH!

And growth is what's hiding behind the veneer I mentioned earlier. Your intention is only a means to an end (the ultimate end)... your full self-actualization and growth!

In the grand scheme of things, do you think it really matters how much money you make?

What kind of car you drive? The title you have? The neighborhood you live in? Not really. It only matters to the degree that you apply yourself to something that creates passion in your heart, mind and spirit. And of course, that it necessitates your growth.

Consequently, as you choose your intentions, measure them against the following criteria:

Does this intention create passion in my heart and soul? Do I have a burning desire to achieve this intention?

Does this intention (and its due date) scare me and excite me at the same time? Is it "teetering edge"?

Will this intention cause me to stretch and grow? Do I need to become a bigger person to accomplish it?

Will achieving this intention bless and provide value to others? If I achieve this will I be able to give more?

Will I need help from my Higher Source to accomplish this intention?
If you answer yes to these 5 qualities, put it in high gear and get moving! If you answered no to ANY ONE of them, reevaluate your intention.

Remember a few key principles about intentions:

* You are worthy of any intention you choose... You must answer the question, "Is this intention worthy of me?" Are you willing to trade your life (time, energy, commitment) for it to be accomplished?

* Growth is the only intention, so learn to enjoy the journey. Once you achieve your intention, it'll automatically be time for a new one. The process of getting there is where the wealth, excitement and experience lie.

* Make sure your intention is a BHAG (Harvard's "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal") that you aren't quiet sure HOW you're going to achieve. By doing this, you'll build your creativity and faith.

Have a big, hairy, audacious week and make your life magnificent!

To your continued wealth and happiness,
James Arthur Ray
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James Arthur Ray of James Ray International is an expert in teaching individuals how to achieve Harmonic Wealth® in all areas of their life by focusing on what they want, opposed to what they don't want. The Harmonic Wealth Weekend will explain in detail how success is state of mind and how the principles of quantum physics (as seen in the movies What the Bleep and The Secret) can be applied to proven success-building techniques.

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Successful Goal Selection -- Avoiding Self-Sabotage By David Schaefer

Successful goal selection stems from our inner perceptions and the congruence of our actions. If what we want and how we go about accomplishing our goals is incongruent, then we are likely to experience a degree of self-sabotage.

In order for success to be achieved, ones intentions and actions must be in alignment when selecting and committing to a goal. It is important to take time to consider if the results you desire will actually be processed effectively by your goal choice.

Ask yourself these 3 questions when contemplating a goal:

* Do I truly want what I think I want?

* Do I earnestly believe that I can achieve my goal?

* Do I deeply feel that I deserve to have what I want?

It is certainly better to be clear about your answers to the above questions than to forge ahead and then have nagging doubts. Otherwise, you may become a candidate for self-sabotage. So, how do you explore your true intentions so that ultimately your actions will be in successful alignment?

The answer is to take a close look at your real intentions, your level of belief, and your feelings about deserving the outcome. Lets take a look at each of these points.

Explore your real intentions. Why are you acting on this particular goal? Is it actually your goal or the idea of another person? Is the goal 100% what you want? Taking the time to consider this fundamental step is very important and can mean the difference between success and disappointment.

Explore your level of belief. In addition to wanting the goal, do you truly believe the goal is achievable? Do you believe down deep this is important enough to you to go after it? Have you thought about the tools and resources you will need for positive action? Can you commit yourself to what is necessary to accomplish the results you want?

Explore your feelings about deserving the outcome. While this may seem strange, if you do not completely feel that you are worthy of a successful outcome, all the time and energy invested simply will not bring the goal to fruition.

If you want the goal and believe in it, but have any doubt whether you are worthy of its success, figure out why you feel this way. Most likely, when honestly addressed, you can resolve this issue and move forward.

It is absolutely wonderful when your intentions and actions are in alignment and you know that you want a goal, believe in it, and deserve it. But, unless you consciously deal with these basic elements, then it is possible to sabotage your well-intended efforts.
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David Schaefer is a success coach and writes on the topic of personal and professional development. He offers a free Audio CD about Breakthrough Success at DiscoverMillionDollarDesire.com -- you may also visit his blog.

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