How to Beat the Goldfish
“The successful warrior is the average man with laser like focus.” – Bruce Lee
This week, there has been a lot to celebrate. One of my clients and his work are the feature of a book, which has just been published. This marked the realization of a lifelong dream for him and a significant point of industry recognition.
A different client was recognized with a major promotion – thanks to her intense focus and commitment to her department. She was exuberant!
Another client set a goal two years ago to take a considerable career risk and move cross country to start a new venture. He followed his plan and recently celebrated a substantial milestone in his new firm.
The Success Factor
These clients have many things in common – they are incredibly intelligent, they are driven and they are persistent. (They also hired Red Zebra Coaching, which was great!) However, that’s not everything makes them successful.
The thing that sets them apart from others is that they had a goal, they created a plan and THEN they had laser focus executing their plan. Simple, right? It’s not. Many people fall victim to the tyranny of the urgency, email, texts, etc. They become victims of distraction and procrastination.
Microsoft released a study that showed people have an attention span of eight seconds – lower one second less than that of a goldfish. Moreover, our attentions spans are 1/3 of what they were 15 years ago, as we have become less effective at filtering out irrelevant information.
Think about the impact that combination – a lower attention span and an inability to filter what’s important – has on your organization and your staff’s ability to successfully realize their goals. What does that cost you?
Stacking the Deck
All is not lost to the goldfish! Here’s what you can do to improve your and your organization’s odds of success:
- Set a clear goal.
- Design a realistic plan with achievable steps.
- Create accountability. The goldfish will still win on occasion. Have someone to help you stay focused.
- Be adaptable. You may have to adapt your plan in a changing environment.
- Celebrate small wins. Small wins create momentum and lead to big wins.
With a clear goal, a plan and FOCUS, you will create success.
Most importantly to my wonderful clients – I’ll be raising a toast in your honor this evening. Congratulations! Red Zebra Coaching and I are honored to be part of your journey and so proud of what you’ve achieved!
