It is so important to know what outcome you're trying to create. That’s just the first part of the equation though. It is also equally important to choose to focus on this outcome in the positive. Because if you spend the majority of your time just thinking about what you're trying to avoid happening, guess what will happen?
This concept applies equally to all aspects of life - Business, Love, Family and Friends.
Let me explain why I know this to be true: because this phenomena happens to me all the time, mainly while I'm playing golf.
Picture this - I've been having a lovely round, hitting the ball cleanly and it’s mostly going to the spots I want it to go. I step up to the tee box and stand over the ball. I look up to where I’m going to aim. To the left and centre, there's an open fairway lined with neatly trimmed grass, that would be a lovely spot for the ball to be for my next shot.
But to the right? Thick, scrubby, ball-stealing bush. If I go over there, I’m going to be stuck there for a while.
All of a sudden, the thought pops into my mind "Don't hit it right... Whatever you do, don't hit it right" which seems like a logical thing to think right? Wrong. Visions of me hitting the ball wayyyyyy right pop into my head and I start picturing the hellish slog out of there, hacking and chopping my way to a double or triple bogey.
With this thought in my head, what am I focusing on? I'm focusing on what I don't want to happen. In fact, I’ve gone so far as to visualise that reality coming to pass in great and detailed depth.
Can you guess what happens with this thought in my head? 9 times out of 10 I hit it right - because that's what I focused on.
Transfer this thought into the business world and a scenario where you really want to make a sale to a big, new, exciting client. Normally you’d have no stress about this, maybe a little excitement, but times have been tough lately – “Don’t act desperately” you tell yourself. Your mind starts spinning off into what if’s and images of them choosing your competitor start playing out in your brain. We all know where this is going don’t we?
What’s the alternative though? Simple, focus on the positive – the things that you want to come to pass. Control the inputs and let the outputs take care of themselves. Think about the shots you want to hit and the sales presentation that you put in place and focus on executing that as you planned. You can’t always control the bounce of the ball or the luck of the draw in life and sometimes things just won’t go your way.
There are a lot of things beyond your control, so why not take control of what you can and focus on what you can do and what you do want to happen?
Until then, Onward & Upward, Jake
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