focus
Focus
Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash
Robert Browning’s quote, “when the fight begins within himself, a man’s worth something,” is a powerful and thought-provoking one that speaks to the strength of the human spirit and determination. It speaks of the importance of self-reflection and inner struggle that leads to growth, progress, and, ultimately, success.
In our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in external circumstances and focus on the challenges and obstacles that stand in our way. But it’s essential to remember that true growth and transformation begin from within. The fight that Browning speaks of is not necessarily physical but rather the inner conflict that arises when we confront our fears, limitations, and beliefs. This fight is a necessary step in our personal development, as it challenges us to break free from old patterns and habits that hold us back and embrace new perspectives and opportunities for growth.
The quote also highlights the value of determination and resilience in adversity. When we face challenges and obstacles, it’s easy to surrender to despair. But Browning’s words remind us that the fight within ourselves makes us truly valuable. When we face our inner demons head-on, overcome our fears, and rise above our limitations, we demonstrate our true worth.
The fight within ourselves is not easy, but it is worth it, as it is through this fight that we become the best version of ourselves.
The Power of a Fresh Perspective
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
As a business leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of running a company. We focus on hitting targets, meeting deadlines, and ensuring everything run smoothly. And we shut people down by not keeping an open mind.
But what happens when things aren’t going as planned?
This is when a fresh perspective can be invaluable. A new point of view can help you see things in a different light and give you the insight you need to make important decisions. Using phrases like “tell me more” or “huh, I hadn’t thought about it that way” keeps the discussion open and moving.
Talk to your team members, prospects, residents, vendor partners, and competitors. Ask them for their thoughts on your business and how it could be improved. You may be surprised by what you learn.
Another way to gain a fresh perspective is to step back and take a look at the bigger picture. Instead of getting caught up in the details, try to see the forest for the trees. Ask yourself what the long-term goals of your business are and how you can work towards them. What is the why of our business? Why do we exist?
Finally, don’t be afraid to challenge your assumptions. Or kill the sacred cows. We all have a tendency to hold on to certain beliefs, even when they’re no longer true.
Be open to new ideas and be willing to change your mind.
“Huh, I hadn’t thought about it that way” is a phrase you should remember as a business leader. It’s a reminder to be open to new ideas and always look for ways to improve your business. You can navigate the most demanding challenges and achieve your long-term goals with a fresh perspective.
Strategies for Staying Focused
Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash
Staying focused and avoiding distractions is crucial for productivity and achieving goals. Here are ten strategies for staying focused and avoiding distractions:
- Create a schedule: Plan your day and stick to a schedule. This will help you stay on task and avoid procrastination.
- Eliminate distractions: Identify the sources of distractions in your environment and eliminate them. This could include turning off notifications on your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, or finding a quiet place to work.
- Take breaks: Short breaks throughout the day can help you stay focused. Use this time to stretch, take a walk, or do something else to refresh your mind.
- Use a timer: Set a timer for a specific amount of time and focus on a task for that amount of time. This can help you stay on task and avoid getting sidetracked.
- Prioritize tasks: Prioritize your tasks based on importance and focus on the most important tasks first. This will help you stay on track and achieve your goals.
- Use a to-do list: Keep a to-do list and check off tasks as you complete them. This will help you stay organized and motivated.
- Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. Taking care of yourself will help you stay focused and energized.
- Use noise-canceling headphones: If you work in a noisy environment, noise-canceling headphones can help block out distractions and help you focus.
- Use focus apps: Several apps available can help you stay focused. These apps can block distractions, track your progress, and more.
- Stay positive: Stay positive, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Stay on track and remind yourself of the progress you have made.
By following these strategies, you’ll be able to stay focused and avoid distractions, which will help you be more productive and achieve your goals. Remember, staying focused and avoiding distractions is an ongoing process, and it’s important to evaluate and adjust your strategies as needed regularly.
Distractions
There are distractions all around us. How easy is it to get lost in a status or tweet stream review? How easy is it to get caught up in a conversation that is not really moving your business forward? How easy is it to get into the busy and forget about the important stuff?
What do you spend your time on?
What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning? If you are like most you grab the phone sitting beside your bed. Or you scramble to find it buried between the sheets because you fell asleep reading something.
Focus is fast becoming the number on asset of excellent knowledge age worker. Property management professionals everywhere – it’s time to raise the stakes. It’s time to lay the phone down and get some serious quality work done.
Now before you start defending your opinion on the subject – let me say this. I’m not suggesting you put the phone in the drawer and ignore for the full day. I am suggesting you set blocks of time whereby you ignore the incoming text messages, emails and phone calls. Ignore the status updates and the urge to kill the next round of angry birds or fill in your word for a friend.
Raise the stakes and make some good work happen.
My guess – if you are looking to differentiate yourself from the pack; the skill of focus will be your linchpin.
Your always raising the stakes multifamily maniac,
M
#apartmentmarketing: Focus on the Needs
Remarkable social media content and great sales copy are pretty much the same – plain spoken words designed to focus on the needs of the reader, listener, or viewer. – Brian Clark
We have all been there – staring at a blank page waiting, wondering, wanting something brilliant to pop into our mind so we can dazzle the socks off of our constituents. And, it doesn’t come. Or, it comes in faster than you can get your fingers to move so once complete it seems all over the board and useful to no one. Worst of all we are not patient for things that come anon as it’s a yesterday economy…
Simple is better
Sometimes a little simple is a lot better. Robert Fulghum summed it up best in his book; All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten:
- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don’t hit people.
- Put things back where you found them.
- Clean up your own mess.
- Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
- Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Flush.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
- Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
- Take a nap every afternoon.
- When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
- Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
- Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
- And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK