Comments on: How to Stay Focused: Vision Maintenance and the Minutiae Vacuum http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:40:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Miley-Cyrus-Fan http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63995 Miley-Cyrus-Fan Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:52:09 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63995 hmm! thanks, usefull :) hmm! thanks, usefull :)

]]> By: Derek Ralston http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63709 Derek Ralston Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:14:10 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63709 Good tips, it's especially important to reflect on our values, and tie those with our goals and daily habits. Then, whenever you aren't sticking with a habit or goal, you can think back to the value and say "oh yeah, that's why I'm doing this" and get a recharge of energy. I've found Tim Ferriss's 4 Hour Workweek has another good tip on productivity- write down the 2 most important things you need to do the next day, and then make sure you do those that day, and don't multi-task. This helps you stay focused and it's amazing how much you can get done over time by just doing those two things each day. Good tips, it’s especially important to reflect on our values, and tie those with our goals and daily habits. Then, whenever you aren’t sticking with a habit or goal, you can think back to the value and say “oh yeah, that’s why I’m doing this” and get a recharge of energy.

I’ve found Tim Ferriss’s 4 Hour Workweek has another good tip on productivity- write down the 2 most important things you need to do the next day, and then make sure you do those that day, and don’t multi-task. This helps you stay focused and it’s amazing how much you can get done over time by just doing those two things each day.

]]> By: khaled http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63669 khaled Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:48:46 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63669 I agree that using books or blogs or whatever external source is not enough to get inspired or motivated on the long run.It can be used for short term just to trigger your motivational mechanism.However,to keep yourself motivated and hence,focused you need to develope a self-built motivational system. To stay focused on your goal,I have found that the best way is to clearly identify and breakdown the tasks that is needed to get the goal accomplished as a number of consequent steps like directions for a place or directions written in a "manual user guide" of an electronic device. Also,creating a " work breakdown structure"can be so helpful.That is to breakdown your tasks into small pieces of work and identify clearly the time,resources and effort needed to complete each minor task.This helps greatly to stay focused and always know what you have to do and when. I agree that using books or blogs or whatever external source is not enough to get inspired or motivated on the long run.It can be used for short term just to trigger your motivational mechanism.However,to keep yourself motivated and hence,focused you need to develope a self-built motivational system.
To stay focused on your goal,I have found that the best way is to clearly identify and breakdown the tasks that is needed to get the goal accomplished as a number of consequent steps like directions for a place or directions written in a “manual user guide” of an electronic device.
Also,creating a ” work breakdown structure”can be so helpful.That is to breakdown your tasks into small pieces of work and identify clearly the time,resources and effort needed to complete each minor task.This helps greatly to stay focused and always know what you have to do and when.

]]> By: Erika Harris http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63656 Erika Harris Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:37:01 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63656 Jonathan, Thanks for a great article... and great closing questions! I've found that my larger goals have: (1) been with me a long time; and (2) have evolved as I have evolved, but despite the changes that growth brings, the core of the goals have stayed the same and those cores have also been with me a long time. So, I wonder if the procrastination is a twisted way of keeping familiar mind-companions (goals, visions, etc.) close to me? Kinda like the author that dreads writing the last sentence of her book 'cause she doesn't want the internal process to be over. When a vision/dream actually MANIFESTS, it's no longer in the private confines of our mind/heart, but it's now an active, public, possibly living thing. And we interact with it differently. The trick for me is remembering that the new outward interaction is precisely what I want... so I must stop keeping it out of my own reach with time-wasting, counterproductive acts! Again, thanks for creating a space and forum that allowed me to ramble my way to a better-feeling place :-) Jonathan,

Thanks for a great article… and great closing questions!

I’ve found that my larger goals have: (1) been with me a long time; and (2) have evolved as I have evolved, but despite the changes that growth brings, the core of the goals have stayed the same and those cores have also been with me a long time. So, I wonder if the procrastination is a twisted way of keeping familiar mind-companions (goals, visions, etc.) close to me? Kinda like the author that dreads writing the last sentence of her book ’cause she doesn’t want the internal process to be over. When a vision/dream actually MANIFESTS, it’s no longer in the private confines of our mind/heart, but it’s now an active, public, possibly living thing. And we interact with it differently. The trick for me is remembering that the new outward interaction is precisely what I want… so I must stop keeping it out of my own reach with time-wasting, counterproductive acts!

Again, thanks for creating a space and forum that allowed me to ramble my way to a better-feeling place :-)

]]> By: Open Heart http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63625 Open Heart Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:28:16 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63625 Great post, I loved the idea of the sanctuary. I agree that you need 'your place', a place where you feel totally at ease and free from the worries of everyday life, and where it's easier to reflect deeper on what you really want. Thanks for this! Great post, I loved the idea of the sanctuary. I agree that you need ‘your place’, a place where you feel totally at ease and free from the worries of everyday life, and where it’s easier to reflect deeper on what you really want.
Thanks for this!

]]> By: The Minutiae Vacuum and Career Advice From Unexpected Sources | Illuminated Mind http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63616 The Minutiae Vacuum and Career Advice From Unexpected Sources | Illuminated Mind Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:15:01 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63616 [...] How to Stay Focused: Vision Maintenance and the Minutiae Vacuum [...] [...] How to Stay Focused: Vision Maintenance and the Minutiae Vacuum [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Mead http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63615 Jonathan Mead Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:32:19 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63615 Hi Flora, Sometimes it's really difficult for me to draw the line between thinking about something and doing it. Or research and planning vs. implementation. I really like that quote you've mentioned though, it's particularly relevant for me right now. I'm probably going to write an article about building a dream sanctuary soon. Stay tuned. =) Hi Flora,

Sometimes it’s really difficult for me to draw the line between thinking about something and doing it. Or research and planning vs. implementation.

I really like that quote you’ve mentioned though, it’s particularly relevant for me right now.

I’m probably going to write an article about building a dream sanctuary soon. Stay tuned. =)

]]> By: Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63614 Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:40:02 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63614 Jonathan, Your post hits home with me, especially the point about reading books, etc. for inspiration but not doing anything. I'm fighting that temptation right now as I'm writing my book. Part of me feels like I have to read what everybody has written on the subject before I can proceed. Thus, I've surrounded myself with all the major books on my genre, plus spent a disproportionate amount of time in the libraries and bookstores. My coach shared a quote from Zig Ziglar that has helped shake me out of this stuck place: "Don't wait for all the lights to turn green before leaving town." Your post has helped emphasize the importance of vision maintenance and finding a dream sanctuary. I especially love the term "dream sanctuary," a place where your dreams and goals are safe and can be stirred and rejuvenated whenever you want. Thanks so much. Jonathan,

Your post hits home with me, especially the point about reading books, etc. for inspiration but not doing anything. I’m fighting that temptation right now as I’m writing my book. Part of me feels like I have to read what everybody has written on the subject before I can proceed. Thus, I’ve surrounded myself with all the major books on my genre, plus spent a disproportionate amount of time in the libraries and bookstores.

My coach shared a quote from Zig Ziglar that has helped shake me out of this stuck place: “Don’t wait for all the lights to turn green before leaving town.”

Your post has helped emphasize the importance of vision maintenance and finding a dream sanctuary. I especially love the term “dream sanctuary,” a place where your dreams and goals are safe and can be stirred and rejuvenated whenever you want.

Thanks so much.

]]> By: Ron http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63609 Ron Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:30:49 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63609 Knowing where you want to go, what you want to accomplish is fundamental to success. I find I can't accomplish much until I see how it can be done. I think of productivity as getting more done in the same amount of time, maybe a little different from your definition. One thing that has been coming to me on that front is to Do One Thing. Multi-tasking and distractions are of the devil. The web is awesome, but is also the best distraction engine in the world. Ron http://www.distinctionsforlife.tv/ Knowing where you want to go, what you want to accomplish is fundamental to success. I find I can’t accomplish much until I see how it can be done.

I think of productivity as getting more done in the same amount of time, maybe a little different from your definition. One thing that has been coming to me on that front is to Do One Thing. Multi-tasking and distractions are of the devil. The web is awesome, but is also the best distraction engine in the world.

Ron
http://www.distinctionsforlife.tv/

]]> By: Manuel http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/comment-page-1/#comment-63605 Manuel Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:37:08 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused/#comment-63605 I see some good truth in you post, good work my friend! I see some good truth in you post, good work my friend!

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