How to Identify The Actual Root Cause of your Distractions – 5 Tips (Part 1)
Posted by Jade Onashoga|Eliminate Distractions|Increase Productivity|Increase Focus|How to identify the actual root cause of your distractions|
Have you ever asked the question, How to Identify the actual Root cause of your Distractions? Yes, we are all guilty of it, Distractions. It has been my bain for many years. It did get to a point of which I made a conscious decision. Enough is Enough.
One of the products of my decision to become focused and productive is my blog: Extrapreneur.Info I made the required changes to manage distractions, focus and be productive. Working intentionally towards my entrepreneurial journey, so CAN YOU!!!
How To identify the Actual Root Cause of your Distractions
1. Solution to the Butterfly approach
The butterfly approach is basically, when you dabble in numerous ventures and activities without seeing them to fruition. I used to be quite skilled at this, unfortunately it was to no gain at all. The reason why many people adopt this approach is because they are convinced that they can make a success in the various areas. They soon realise that in fact they do not have the know how and have just strayed in to these respective areas because other people have done so.
The solution is to really hone down your areas of business and don’t go into areas of business based on the fact that a multitude of other people are in that space.
Stick with what you know and focus on one business idea at a time as this will allow you to see it through as opposed to abandoning half way along. Don’t be a “Dabbler”. Avoid this approach as nothing tends to stick. Nothing becomes progressive from this approach. Also, think of all the time you have wasted on these multiple projects when you could have focused on one project and made a success of it.
2. Lack of clarity of where you want to be – solution
This is pretty much a follow on from the Butterfly approach described above. Dabbling in multiple projects alleviates clarity. For me everything just got muddled up, of which I would just shut down and walk away. Even when you are working on one project or in fact any initiative, it is important to get clarity.
As an example, you are thinking of embarking on a long trip to a destination you have never been before. What do you do first? Figure out (preferably in writing how you are going to get there, if there are multiple routes, which route is suitable for you?) Surely, you could not have embarked on the journey and then make a decision with regards to the best route to take.
Well, the same applies for our business. To have clarity and to make progress along our chosen business path you need a road map, of which, the business plan itself must be broken down into bitesize chunks.
Referring back to my example about the road trip, as you drive you see a range of signposts as you progress informing you how many miles you have left to arrive at your destination. You also see the various towns and villages you will drive past as well as they service stations as you get closer. You do not see them all lumped together at the commencement of your journey. That will be just too much!!
So we do have all these activities, tasks and goals at the commencement of our business journey. We must break them down and tackle them as you make progress, place them in some sort of priority to alleviate overwhelm and gain clarity.
3. Solution to not waiting until a business matures – solution
As a business owner, you must be Patient. Businesses tend to grow organically over a period of time, as you grow organically you build trust and develop relationships with your TRIBE. It is important that you avoid discarding a business idea based on the fact that it is not growing as fast as you want it to. Trust has to be gained. Also, it could be that you just need to refine certain aspects of the business plan/model.
You must also be mindful of the fact that you cannot control everything, however, focus on what you can control. Also, study the market, the industry you are in and also the prevailing economy as your understanding will allow you to make the necessary adjustments. Businesses are hard work. Even if you aren’t holding down a day job, a business will take up enormous amounts of your time, especially when you are first building it. You cannot hope to achieve success if you keep flitting from interest to interest. Patience is Key – Don’t give up as soon as you are faced with challenges and issues
4. To many options – solution
When you are faced or you actually embrace with too many options you are bound to become overwhelmed just like it happened to me.
Narrow down your options and go for the best one that not best suits and is feasible. This is why it is also good to follow your passion. Let face it your passion is your passion. What you like is what you like and what you enjoy is what you enjoy.
It could be fashion; making dresses, knitting, gardening, cooking, baking cakes, fitness, beauty, running community led initiatives, writing or video recording.
Knuckle down on your passion as you will most likely enjoy this journey in particular as oppose to straying into territory unknown; unless you have done your research and study in that particular area.
President Barack Obama famously told Vanity Fair that he only wears grey or blue suits. ‘I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing because I have too many other decisions to make.’
We all know that some decisions are more important than others, but when you’re stressed or overwrought, it can be easy to get bogged down in irrelevant and trivial decisions, or to be unable to distinguish what is important.
5. An overall lack of focus – solution
You must identify the most crucial part of your work or to-do list (around 20%) and then focus completely on that 20%.
This often involves breaking your most crucial tasks into smaller, achievable targets. Many people procrastinate because their to-do list seems overwhelming. However, as many of us have noticed, once you start a project, finishing it is not nearly as difficult or daunting as it initially seemed.
Start by breaking your to-do list into smaller achievable tasks. As an example, let’s suppose you have a presentation that you have to prepare for a client; The subject is PRODUCTIVITY.
This will initially seem quite overwhelming as productivity is a very broad subject, so let’s try breaking it up into the following piecemeal activities and tasks to make it more achievable:
- Start by reading articles about the subject productivity
- Jot down or highlight your findings
- Highlight the ideas you need to include in the presentation, bearing in mind your audience and what will engage them
- Do a keyword search
- Use the ideas you’ve gathered to create a skeleton presentation
- Flesh out the skeleton, with further research if necessary
- Practice in front of a mirror or a willing audience
You are likely to find that the task is executed speedily. On the day of delivery, you will deliver with confidence and self-assurance because you have done thorough research and plenty of preparation.
In conclusion
How To identify the Actual Root Cause of your Distractions
1. Avoid the Butterfly Approach
2. Don’t be a Dabbler – Research and Focus on one business, project or initiative at a time
3. Patience is Key – Don’t give up as soon as you are faced with challenges and issues
4. Narrow down your Options -Create a very clear path way for yourself
5. Get Focused by breaking down and planning your tasks
Posted by Jade Onashoga|Eliminate Distractions|Increase Productivity| Increase Focus
