FOCUS: SEPARATING SUCCESS FROM FAILURE
There are many characteristics that help people become successful in life: commitment, consistency, persistence, dedication… However, the most important ingredient of success at Epic Share is focus. It’s even one of the 12 principles in Kosta Gara’s book, “Organic Networker.” Today is about learning how to focus on what really matters: accomplishing your dreams.
25/5 AND 10/3
Warren Buffet, one of the wealthiest men in the world, discussed the important of focus and created a rule known as 25/5. You must begin with a list of the top 25 goals you want to accomplish in your entire life, not within the next 10 – 30 days. Once you have a list of 25 top lifetime goals, review the list again and circle the 5 most important ones.
As humans, it’s easy to have goals and dreams, but unfortunately, many people will only be able to accomplish 2 – 4 major goals in their lives. Having a list of 25 is exciting, but unrealistic. This is why it’s more efficient to focus on the top 5: the ones that are of the most importance to you and your life. Eliminating the other 20 can be difficult to do, but ultimately, they are just a distraction.
Kosta has a similar rule he discusses in “Organic Networker” called the 10/3 where he prioritizes 3 goals from a list of 10. This rule can also be used in your day-to-day life by prioritizing what needs to be accomplished in one day, rather than in a lifetime. Kosta does this every morning; he wakes up, looks at 10 things he wants to accomplish that day, and begins prioritizing his tasks. Though he might not complete everything that day, he knows he can at least accomplish three items from his list.
This mentality of always moving forward is the meaning behind Kosta’s tattoo: “kaizen.” In Japanese, this word means constant and never-ending improvement. So, whether you’re creating a list for your life or a list for the next 12 hours, decide what you can do better today. Set your goals every day, every week, every month… Choose your top priorities by what’s important to you, not your friends or colleagues. What is it that you want to accomplish? Write it down and start focusing.
WHICH RULE SHOULD I USE?
Pick a technique that suits your needs. Kosta and Sammy support each other in everything they do, but they have different personalities and different minds. This means, what works for Kosta might not work for Sammy, and they’ve come to understand this fact. This is why although Sammy agrees with Kosta’s values, she often finds her own way to accomplish things. You must do the same.
Whether you decide to use Warren Buffet’s 25/5, Kosta Gara’s 10/3, or someone else’s rule, limit your list of wants or needs so you can focus on what’s important. It’s easy to get distracted or overwhelmed if you allow your list to be too long. The key here is baby steps! You need to learn to crawl before you can run. Focus on the main goals you want to accomplish and then devote, dedicate, and zoom into that list.
Whether you decide to use Warren Buffet’s 25/5, Kosta Gara’s 10/3, or someone else’s rule, limit your list of wants or needs so you can focus on what’s important. It’s easy to get distracted or overwhelmed if you allow your list to be too long. The key here is baby steps! You need to learn to crawl before you can run. Focus on the main goals you want to accomplish and then devote, dedicate, and zoom into that list.
I’VE MADE A LIST. NOW WHAT?
There’s desire in everyone. People want and people need. You deserve to have the things you want to accomplish! However, simply making a list isn’t enough. You need to constantly analyze your priorities. Reflect on what’s most important to you today, tomorrow, and 10 years from now. This is how Sammy and Kosta have both achieved success.
You can also visualize your priorities. This is one of the greatest gifts the human mind has: visualization. Sammy says, “In order to manifest something, visualize it.” Believe you already have it, you deserve it, you own it. Once you can picture your future, get excited. It’s impossible to succeed if you don’t feel successful.
Kosta is well known for his ability to focus and stay productive. This is because he’s very consistent with his actions. Every action you take must be one that will lead to success. Sammy lives her life today based on what she wants to accomplish in the future. Everyone has a dream, so make sure what you say and do are representations of what you want to achieve. People often behave in ways that do not contribute to their future. This is what is called wishful thinking. What you wish for needs to be what you’re working toward. In fact, this is another topic covered in “Organic Networker.” Focus is what allows you to zero in on your goal.
IS THIS ONLY FOR BUSINESS?
These rules for focusing on your goals can be applied to any aspect of your life and anything you want to accomplish! For example, if you wanted to go on vacation, what are you doing now to plan for that future? Are you saving money? Are you researching information? You can’t be sitting on the couch, watching Netflix, and daydreaming about the beach. Every action you take in the present determines where you’re going in the future. You have to take action and zoom in on the goal. If you want a vacation, what can you do today to work toward accomplishing that?
Another example could be relationships. Are you single and wishing you could meet Mr. or Mrs. Right? Well, what are you doing today to work toward that goal? Where are you going to meet people? What actions can you take right now to move forward?
If you surround yourself with successful people that you connect with, they will support you and help speed your accomplishments. Sammy believes likeminded individuals will even help you manifest your desires. This also means being around people you don’t connect with will hinder your goals. Sammy has been on a path of positivity for 25 years, but it only takes one negative person to suck her down again. Why? Because she’s human.
If you want to succeed, surround yourself with success. Learn from people you want to learn from. If you want to make money, learn from people who believe they’re worthy of wealth.
CONCLUSION
Kosta has studied many topics over the years and learned from countless successful people. He’s fortunate to have so many successful people in his social circle today. Of all the self-made millionaires he’s met over the last 25 years, all of them attribute their success to one thing: focus. That should be your priority. To succeed, you need to focus.
- Published in Business, Coaching, Epic Share, Featured, Knowledge, Life, Networking, Success
INCREASING YOUR INCOME BY 25%
Everyone has a topic they connect with; for Kosta, he attributes the majority of his success to his organization and time management skills. You only have so many hours in the day, and everyone has been blessed with the same times. So, why is it some people are able to utilize those hours better than others? Time management is really “life management.” It’s about getting every aspect of your life under control so you can enjoy the success of your day.
BENEFITS OF TIME MANAGEMENT
Everyone can benefit from utilizing time management techniques, but what exactly are the benefits? You have about 2,000 hours every year that you put into your day-to-day work. If you were to spend just two hours every weekday, utilizing these techniques, you could not only be more productive, but increase your income by 25%. How? Take a look at the formula below:
2 hours per day x 5 days per week x 52 weeks = 520 hours of productivity per year
That’s about a quarter of an entire year’s worth of work condensed into just 2 hours a day. Think about that. If you have a job and you’re able to be more productive by 2 hours per day, wouldn’t your boss notice? Your boss will see the dedication you have and the effort you’re putting in, and he or she will grant you more benefits and a higher salary! Own your own business? Well, these rules apply to you too! 2 hours of productivity every day means a 25% increase in your revenue, 25% increase in your income, 25% increase in the time you put into building your business. No matter what industry you’re in, time is money. Time is precious, and once it’s gone, it’s expired. Focus on utilizing every minute.
Still not convinced in the benefits of time management? Being productive also provides you with these:
- More energy
- Less stress
- More time
These are the results that Kosta has been able to enjoy over the last 20 years of mastering his time management techniques. One of the greatest motivations is pleasure, and that’s exactly what productivity gives you. You feel great about everything you do!
Time management is a tool that allows you to get from point A to point B, like a vehicle. Utilizing these skills gives you the opportunity to be more productive, less stressed, and to enjoy life. That’s what time management is about. It’s a discipline to master your life that allows you to be, have, and do anything you want.
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Before beginning your task, you should know what you must accomplish. Have the end in sight so you can properly execute your task.
Plan your days in advance. Have you ever suddenly realized the whole day is gone and you haven’t achieved anything? Many people experience this, and it’s commonly caused by one mistake: forgetting to plan out tasks before starting. Have a check-list ready to go so you can stay focused and on-task. You can even plan your tasks the night before so you aren’t rushed to schedule your day.
Of course you can’t accomplish everything at once, so prioritize! What’s the most important task you need to complete? Organize your day based on which tasks are time-sensitive. The least important tasks can be achieved tomorrow or even next week.
Organizing tasks by location helps categorize your time. Get the farthest tasks done first, since those typically take more time. The tasks closest to you can be done the next day. Don’t forget to assign an accurate time-frame to each task so you don’t overbook your day or find yourself running from one task to the next without any time to spare.
REVISIT YOUR PLAN IN THE MORNING
When you wake up in the morning, decide if any of your priorities have changed. Is there anything you need to add to your list? What about anything you need to remove?
Remember not to spend too much time reading emails or exploring social media when you wake up. It’s easy to become engulfed in your phone and lose track of time. Spending less time on emails and messages allows you more time for productivity.
Routine helps keep you on-task too. Kosta is known for his high-energy breakfast, which he has had every morning at 6:30AM for the last 14 years! Give yourself the energy you need with a powerful breakfast in order to be efficient throughout the day.
GET TASKS DONE DAILY
Map your tasks by location so you know which ones you need to go to first. Imagine driving 90 minutes one way, coming all the way back home, and then realizing your next task was 15 minutes from your previous location! Avoid this by prioritizing your tasks by location and importance.
Don’t forget to be as prepared as possible. Have a plan B, plan C, and plan D ready to be implemented. What happens if someone doesn’t show up? What happens if the location is closed? You need to have a plan to avoid blips in your schedule that slow you down. Over the last 20 years, Kosta has become a master at being prepared. If he’s standing in line at the bank or waiting to get his coffee, he’s also making calls. He prepares a task to accomplish every moment of the day to maximize productivity.
CONCLUSION
Time management isn’t an overnight success; it’s a success that requires dedication over time. Kosta’s book, Organic Networker, has a chapter on time management, which you can review for more details, tips, and techniques! Read the chapter and see what you can start applying to your day-to-day life. You have to have the discipline to build a habit. Consider what this could do for you: a simple 2 hours a day, at the end of the year, is over 500 hours of productivity. That’s extra time, extra income, extra energy! Whatever it is you want to achieve, discipline yourself to follow time management techniques consistently and consecutively.
