The Power of Focus - Concentrate Your Personal Energy

If you were placed in a pen with two rabbits and you knew that your life depended on catching both rabbits, there is only one way you could succeed. You'd have to chase them down one rabbit at a time. Focus exclusively on the first rabbit until you catch him. Then refocus on the rabbit you had ignored.

It takes an extraordinary person to work on multiple "top" priorities simultaneously. I've known some high-energy entrepreneurs who pursued a wide range of interests. Even though they could point to numerous achievements, I was aware of many fine initiatives that had been launched and then neglected.

As a West Point cadet, I studied the great battles. One of the fundamental principles of war I learned was called "mass." It involves the overwhelming concentration of forces on a single point - the enemy's weakness.

It's about how you distribute energy. How much personal energy do you have? Can you succeed by distributing your energy among many activities during a day? This approach may be interesting and pleasant, but you'd be surprised how much of your energy goes towards relatively unimportant, even meaningless activities.

The smart money is to focus. Focus your time strictly on your most important priority. There is something brilliant about an all-out effort, day in and day out, in pursuit of one goal.

What some of the great minds have said about FOCUS...

"To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement." - Bertrand Russell, British philosopher (1872-1970)

“To do two things at once is to do neither.” - Publilius Syrus, Roman author (Fl. B.C. 1st cent)

“One of the most important factors—not only in military matters but in life as a whole—is the power of execution, the ability to direct one’s whole energies toward the fulfillment of a particular task.” - Erwin Rommel, German general (1891-1944)

"When every physical and mental resource is focused - one's power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously." - Norman Vincent Peale, American author (1898-1993)

“My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset.” - Jack Nicklaus, American professional golfer (1940- )

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” - Alexander Graham Bell, American inventor (1847-1922)

“Who begins too much accomplishes little.” - German Proverb

"Concentration is the secret of strengths in politics, war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher (1803-1882)

"Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives." - Anthony Robbins, American author (1960- )

"The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." - Bruce Lee, Chinese actor (1940-1973)

"Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital....The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket." - Andrew Carnegie, American business leader (1835-1919)

"The perplexity of life arises from there being too many interesting things in it for us to be interested properly in any of them." - G. K. Chesterton, British novelist (1874-1936)

"Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any." - Plato, Greek philosopher (B.C. 428-347)

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2011. Building Personal Strength .