Recently, Gloucester (10 minutes from here) hosted a Schooner Festival and several of the schooners welcomed visitors on board. We were particularly interested in a luxury schooner called the Peacemaker, owned by “The Community” to which my eldest daughter belongs. So we went to visit. We know nothing about boats (ships, schooners, yachts – don’t even know the terminology). But this was an impressive boat in terms of size and beauty. By the way, you can learn more from their web site.
It takes 8-10 people just to raise the sails!
Anyway, standing in the pilot house, I tried to visualize myself guiding the ship to the Caribbean or Nova Scotia. I would have a lot to learn. The steering wheel (do they call it that?) looks self-evident (or is it?) but I have no idea about the rest of the gadgets spread across the front of the room. Charting? Don’t know how. Which sails should be up or down? Not the foggiest. Nor any idea about navigation in the fog. I’d need to know all about all of those things – and more – in order to stay the course and arrive safely in Halifax, for example.
It is difficult for a ship to stay the course with things like high winds, high seas, fog, accidents, or dissension in the crew. Difficult – but far from impossible with a well-trained, fully experienced, and confident pilot.
Getting Off Course
The ability to stay the course is not easy for me, no matter what we are talking about. I like starting things, creating things. But staying the course is tougher. Starting a blog? -Easy. But will I still be writing entries in two years? I once started a private school for middle schoolers, calling it Cape Ann Academy. Getting started was a huge challenge, but staying the course was so much more difficult. The things I faced in trying to continue building Cape Ann Academy, things that challenged “staying the course” is fairly typical of most things in life, whether beliefs, a business, a relationship, and any creative endeavor like writing a book or making a painting.
- Other people that disagree with your activities or actively oppose them; worrying about what others think
- Dwindling cash
- The pressure of other projects or relationships competing for time and attention
- Uncertainty, doubt, or other negative attitude-creep
Refocus and Get Back on Course
One thing that can make a large difference is “focused action.” To focus is to concentrate, to zero in, to aim. Eliminate the blur by having a very clear purpose. If you don’t know for certain where you want to go, how can you get there?
The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence. -Robert J. Shiller
Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus. -Oprah Winfrey
Plan your work (focus) and work your plan (action). Those who live with focused action keep doing. That could include deciding, moving, writing, networking, building… whatever is needed to implement the plan. What could be standing in the way?
- Resting. Rest is critically necessary. But some cannot get out of bed because it is used as an escape. Focused action requires a person to get rest and then get going.
- TV. Like so many other things, it is a time absorber and disengages the mind. Focused action requires one to take stock of how time is used and to ensure that priority is given to goals.
- Training. Learning is fine and necessary, but training without action (practice) is useless and expensive. Some people are career students – always taking courses. Many cannot stop buying training packages from the latest guru they find on the internet. Focused action requires balance. Learn what is needed and take action.
- Lack of focus. Jumping from one thing to another is a symptom of poor focus. Busyness without progress is a symptom of poor focus. Focused action requires a time-out to reset one’s focus. Then action can follow with profit. (Several months ago I watched a webinar given by Mike Klingler on this topic. The video is specifically applicable to those who are using the Renegade Pro tutorials to learn about using the internet to build a business. But there are excellent lessons there for all students of business building, no matter what philosophy your believe, or where you are getting your training. I recommend that you set aside 2 hours and watch this webinar; it’s free by the way! Alternatively, read what Mike has written about focus in Internet Network Marketing and the danger of Distraction)
Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right. – Walt Disney
Action is the foundational key to all success. -Pablo Picasso
I’m working on these principles – how about you?
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