Energy flows in the direction of focus. This has always been true throughout history, but we now live in a unique epoch. Smartphones, social media, selfies, and hashtags – the distractions we face today are ubiquitous and seemingly limitless.
You are not alone if you feel like staying focused is becoming increasingly difficult. Every successful business owner and entrepreneur has struggled when their attention is being pulled in a hundred different directions.
Maybe you get off to a good start in the morning, but by the end of the day you’re exhausted and unable to concentrate. Perhaps you are easily distracted from your tasks by social media. Meetings and phone calls can keep you awake at night on some days.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many successful Chinese business owners? This is due to the fact that they are taught how to stay focused on their goals and to achieve their dreams through hard work. Now, It’s time to learn how and accomplish more than you ever imagined possible.
Don’t Expect Money to Motivate You
Many people believe that money alone will motivate them, and while this may be true at first, it is extremely difficult to maintain financial motivation if the work you are doing is tedious. Chinese parenting does not teach you to focus on money; instead, they encourage you to maintain your lifestyle. Like what well-known Chinoy motivational speaker, Chinkee Tan would always tell his audience, ”Nag sumikap sila sa kanilang buhay kaya sila nag tagumpay. Gawin nating inspirasyon ito sa ating buhay” which demonstrates that if you want to succeed, you must work hard for it, regardless of the monetary reward. If you’ve been focusing on money as a motivation, you’ll notice that you’re exchanging parts of your life for activities that aren’t in line with your life goals. So, first and foremost, when it comes to goal setting, be true to yourself!
Make Sure They’re Your Goals
One of the most difficult aspects of staying motivated and committed to our goals is ensuring that the goals we have set are ones we truly want to achieve. People are accustomed to the idea that their children will inherit their family’s business, but if you confront your parents and convince them that your goals are worthwhile, they will understand you. We sometimes set goals based on what we believe we should do. Alternatively, we base them on what other people say. Make sure you’re pursuing something that you’re passionate about and that makes you happy — it can make all the difference. As events host and podcaster Max Tiu stated during the 9.9 webinar with Chinoy TV, “Just follow your heart. Sometimes it takes a while for us to discover what we want to do in life. We have to spend every waking moment doing what we love.“
Focus on Your Outcomes
If you have a strong enough why, you will be able to figure out the how. Learning how to stay focused on goals entails connecting the task at hand to your ultimate goal in life. You are told from the start to focus on your outcome rather than what others have accomplished. How does this task assist you in achieving your desired outcome? Visualize yourself completing the task and achieving your objectives. Then, after a few deep breaths, do it.
Like what the pandemic taught everyone, especially in our profession, that no matter what situation we are in, we must focus on our outcomes rather than what is going on in the present moment. That is what SM Malls President Steven Tan realized as he shared his thoughts with the #1CH1NOY campaign during his interview. “Nobody had a playbook. Nobody knew what was going on or what would happen. But I look at the pandemic as an opportunity for us to improve how we serve our customers,” Steven concentrated on the outcome, which motivated him to make solutions happen.
Remove Distractions
Distracted by text messages or tempted to check social media for the tenth time today? Mute your phone and set it down on your desk, then close the Facebook browser tab. You can even install apps and extensions to block Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, and any other websites you want. If coworkers are bothering you, put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign or close your door. They can wait.
Take A Break
Do you want to know how to concentrate? Take a breather. A successful business owner does not work every day; instead, they take time off. Most of the time, it is the decision of the entire family to take a break every now and then to refresh their minds. It may appear contradictory, but scheduled breaks actually improve focus by allowing the brain to recharge. Make certain that it is a genuine break: Take a break from your desk. Take a walk. Read a book. You won’t get the full benefits of relaxing your mind if you use your “break” to check emails or talk about a project.
Be Consistent
Finally, take consistent action each and every day. This means that even if you’re not in the mood, do something small and productive that will move you closer to your ultimate goal — even if it’s just a tweet.
In her #1CH1NOY episode, Pinky Pe Tobiano, the Chinoy chemist and philanthropist, cites the “kotiam is life practice” for her success, and how hard work is truly part of the culture.
Staying motivated is entirely possible; it’s often as simple as keeping your end goal in mind and breaking down the larger tasks into manageable smaller steps. Keep in mind that you can do it! Remind yourself that you have been trained for this and be motivated by the thought that your success is also your family’s success.
