We ask every leader we work with what they would do more
of, better, or more often when they look back on their
career, and the top answer is "Focus." When asked how they
would do that, they answer that they would be even more
goal oriented than they had been. In their opinion, goals
create focus that creates accomplishment. With so many
demands intruding or attempting to intrude on their
attention and energies, goals that create focus are their
firewall, and their primary path to success.

Given that so many highly successful people look to goals
for focus, why is it that so many organizations and people
can't state their personal goals or the goals of their
organization - let alone how their personal goals align
with their organizational goals?

One reason given is time - "We don't have time for that -
we're too busy. " Another reason (read excuse) given is the
belief that an individual has no control over their future
- too many things outside a person's control can cause
things to change, so just go with the flow.

It turns out that most people spend more time focused on
planning a two week vacation than they do planning their
career. I suspect that's because planning a vacation is
controllable, pleasant, and near term - it's easy to focus
on it.

But to succeed and prosper, it's vitally important to have
a personal set of goals. - they keep us in the game -
whatever game is being played. And personal goals that
closely align with organizational goals create a tremendous
amount of energy, commitment and focus.

Personal goals are even more important when organizational
goals don't exist, or aren't expressed, or exist in name
only. It's very tempting in those cases to simply give in
to the flow of the day to day, and go with whatever comes
along - with little if any focus.

Goals help balance the very human tendency to be distracted
by the pressing, in - your - face things that happen every
day - it's called being "flexible." Flexibility can be a
strength, but it can also be a weakness - when flexing
becomes a habit and we look back and see that flexing took
us far away from where we wanted to be or needed to be.

A friend shared a joke with me that illustrates that point
- "Inside every 65 year old is a 40 year old wondering what
the hell happened?"

Focus is the difference between wondering what the hell
happened, and landing where you wanted to land. It's the
difference between throwing a touchdown pass - or throwing
a superball - and watching it bounce every which way - with
high energy, but with no idea where it will land - and what
good - or damage - it will do.

Here are six steps to create focus:

1 - Write down where you want to be in one month, six
months, one year, three years and five years. I know, it
sounds like a lot of work. It is. But I can tell you from
personal experience that those time frames will blow right
past you if you don't take the time to plan them now. And
you'll end up like that 65 year old wondering what happened.

2 - Define how your source of income - your job - your
profession - fits into your own goals. How do your work
goals fit in with your personal goals? Are they the same?
How can they come together in the near term to provide long
term benefit? The closer your personal goals align with the
goals of your organization or profession, the better your
chances of accomplishing them. This is the key to focus -
being convinced and directed to success through goals that
embrace you personally and professionally.

3 - Start with short term goals, but with the end in mind.
Weekly, monthly, quarterly. Define the top 3 to 5 things
that you need to do now to get you to where you want to be.
No more than 3 to 5 - and 5 is a stretch. Remember, you can
only really focus on doing one thing at a time. There is no
more powerful way to become discouraged than to "over goal"
yourself at this stage.

4 - Express your goals in positive terms. Express your
goals in terms of what you want to achieve as opposed to
what you want to avoid or get rid of. Optimism loves
positive outcomes - work to think in those terms.

5 - Define your goals using the SMART formula - Specific,
Manageable, Realistic, Attainable and Time - framed.

6 - Keep track. Hold yourself accountable. Review your
goals at least weekly. Carry them with you wherever you go.
Make them part of your thinking. Make a habit of reciting
your goals and the outcomes of achieving them. Make them
your way of life. And when they need to be revised - and
that will happen often - just do it.

If you're feeling frustrated and busy and not sure where
you're going, start this process today. It isn't easy. It
requires personal discipline. It requires faith in
yourself. But the rewards of a sense of purpose, focus and
freedom are worth the effort. And when you look back in a
few weeks to a few months, you'll be surprised at how far
you've come, and making goals the cornerstone of focus will
become a habit - a habit of success.

About the Author:

Andy Cox helps clients align their resources and design and
implement change through the application of goals focused
on the important few elements that have maximum impact in
achieving success - as defined by the client. He can be
reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com and E Mail at
acox@coxconsultgroup.com