{"id":6274,"date":"2024-01-25T12:24:30","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T16:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/7-simple-tactics-to-renew-your-focus-and-motiation\/"},"modified":"2024-01-25T12:24:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T16:24:30","slug":"7-simple-tactics-to-renew-your-focus-and-motiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/7-simple-tactics-to-renew-your-focus-and-motiation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Simple Tactics to Renew Your Focus and Motiation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

When the Corona Crisis hit, I\u2019ve was getting the same email from dozens of my top clients\u2026 <\/p>\n

\u201cCraig,\u201d they say. \u201cThis week was rough. I can\u2019t seem to stay motivated and I\u2019m starting to lose focus on my goals.\u201d <\/p>\n

Even people with 7-figure businesses who are dominating their industry. <\/p>\n

And I get it. <\/p>\n

Even without a global pandemic right now, things are scary and times are tough. There\u2019s a lot of uncertainty and panic in the world right now, and it can be hard to stay focused on sales calls, copy tweaks, or product delivery when reading headlines about war, recession, and inflation. <\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re feeling \u201cdown\u201d and struggling to find the motivation you need to keep going\u2026 you\u2019re not alone. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve struggled with this exact thing countless times throughout my career. <\/p>\n

In fact, during the early months of 2018, I found myself struggling with bouts of this same \u201centrepreneurial depression.\u201d <\/p>\n

My company\u2019s revenue was sporadic and, after \u201cretiring\u201d from the fitness industry and shutting down my multi-million dollar per year Turbulence Training business, I found myself worrying about the future. <\/p>\n

Maybe like you are right now. <\/p>\n

However, by following the steps you\u2019re about to hear, I was able to make a 180 degree shift with my mindset. I renewed my motivation, doubled down on my focus, and went on to achieve the big goals our company had set for the year. <\/p>\n

And today, I use these tips to prevent <\/em>myself from falling into burnout, overwhelm, or anxiety and stay at the top of my game no matter what\u2019s happening in the world. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how you can do the same. <\/p>\n

1. Treat Yourself Like a Professional Athlete <\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you find the \u201centrepreneurial blues\u201d creeping into your life and you\u2019re struggling to make sales, step back and ask yourself a simple question\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would I do if I were a professional athlete?\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

Professional athletes, especially athletes at the top of their game, do not <\/em>spend all day training hard. <\/p>\n

Sure, they put in hours honing their skills and strengthening their bodies, but a significant portion of their focus is actually on how they spend their time outside <\/em>of the gym. <\/p>\n

Olympic athletes are notorious for sleeping 10-14 hours a day and consuming strict diets. Older NBA stars regularly spend as much \u2013 or more \u2013 time stretching and doing mobility work than shooting baskets. And the competitive weightlifters, CrossFitters and strongmen I know will take upwards of one month <\/em>off their training after a competition. <\/p>\n

Successful athletes place a premium on rest and recuperation. And, if <\/em>you want to succeed at the highest levels, you must learn to do the same. <\/p>\n

Oftentimes, demotivation and burnout are not a symptom of over <\/em>work, but under recovery. <\/p>\n

Just about anyone can sustain 50 to 60 hour work weeks for a few years if they do it right. <\/p>\n

But when you combine long hours with inefficiency and ineffectiveness, you get into trouble fast. <\/p>\n

In the same way that a pro athlete cannot be in playoff mode all year round, your psyche cannot handle an endless barrage of 12-16 hour work days and constant stress without a break \u2013 or a breakthrough. <\/p>\n

We might like to think that we\u2019re invincible hard chargers capable of inhuman levels of productivity and \u201cgrinding\u201d. But the truth is, our performance is finite. <\/p>\n

We only have a set number of hours in a day where we can operate at peak capacity. And to maintain your motivation and focus, you must <\/em>prioritize your recovery time so that you can maximize those hours and use them to their fullest potential.<\/p>\n

Every day, I challenge you to block off 30 to 60 minutes of time during <\/em>your work day (especially if you work 10 or more hours each day), to get into your parasympathetic nervous system. <\/p>\n

Whether you sit in a sauna, meditate, take a nap, listen to music, or go for a long walk, give yourself a few minutes each day to recharge before getting back to the grindstone. <\/p>\n

This simple habit will mentally and physically recharge you for the work day ahead and give your subconscious wheels to spin and develop creative solutions to the problems that you are facing. <\/p>\n

I also encourage you to block of at least <\/em>14 hours of device free time each week. No email. No text messages. No social media. No iPhone scrolling while you workout. No texting while you play with your kids or take your dog to the park. No checking your phone every five minutes while you read a book.<\/p>\n

Instead, go all in on quality time with people you love while engaging in activities you enjoy \u2013 for two hours or more per day. <\/p>\n

When you get back to work at the beginning of the next week, you\u2019ll be shocked <\/em>by the difference this simple activity will make in your mood and performance. <\/p>\n

While the thought of this might sounds terrifying, I promise you, if you will test this for just two weeks, you will never go back. <\/p>\n

What you lose in \u201celectronics time\u201d, you will regain in motivation, clarity, focus, and productivity, guaranteed. <\/p>\n

2. Reread (Or Create) Your Life and Business Vision <\/strong><\/h2>\n

You may have heard the old Proverb, \u201cWhere there is no vision the people perish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ironically, hard charging, type-A, vision oriented entrepreneurs and high performers often get so caught up in executing<\/em> on their vision they forget to focus <\/em>on it. <\/p>\n

They lose sight of the vision that got them started on this journey in the first place and no longer feel excited or pulled <\/em>by their vision. Instead, they have to push <\/em>themselves to accomplish even the most basic tasks every day. <\/p>\n

They are burned out or bored, not because they are doing the wrong things, or working on the wrong projects, or working too hard\u2026 But because they aren\u2019t focusing on the why <\/em>driving their hard work. <\/p>\n

Luckily, the solution is simple. <\/p>\n

First, make sure you have your vision written out.<\/p>\n

Second, review your vision DAILY. <\/p>\n

Set it next to your computer (like I have), hang it on your wall where you will see it every day, or set it as the background for your computer. Make reviewing your vision and goals a non-negotiable part of your day. <\/p>\n

Constantly remind yourself why <\/em>you are working so hard and what all of this effort is for. <\/p>\n

And if you haven\u2019t created a vision for your life and business? Then stop reading this article right now\u2013no I\u2019m not kidding\u2013and take 30-minutes to go and create one using this YouTube video<\/a> to guide you through the process. <\/p>\n

Without a compelling reason why <\/em>you are working so hard, you don\u2019t stand a chance of overcoming the inevitable obstacles that will <\/em>appear in your path. <\/p>\n

The simple truth is this\u2026 Success is <\/em>hard. <\/p>\n

It requires hard work, sacrifice, and uncommon levels of focus, grit, and determination. <\/p>\n

And without a vision, dealing with the challenges of reaching success is impossible. <\/p>\n

So take some time today to either revisit or write down your vision for your life and your business. <\/p>\n

Clearly identify who you want to be, what you want to accomplish, and the exact <\/em>type of life you want to be living. Create a vision so compelling and so exciting that it pulls you out of bed every morning and leaves you excited to work hard and grind it out until it is achieved. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Go build your vision, and never ever <\/em>lose sight of it. <\/p>\n

3. Get the Right Voices in Your Head<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Of the many tactics and strategies I\u2019ve used over the past two decades to become more motivated, build my Operator\u2019s mindset, and develop laser like focus on my biggest goals and dreams, few of them are as simple or as effective as this one. <\/p>\n

I call it the \u201cRevolving Reading List.\u201d <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works. <\/p>\n

Buy a hardcover copy of three books that always leave you feeling motivated, inspired, and excited to build your empire and leave a lasting legacy. <\/p>\n

Personally, I keep a copy of Relentless, Man Up, <\/em>and The Perfect Day Formula<\/em><\/a> <\/em>on my nightstand (I still need the reminder to follow my own advice!). <\/p>\n

Every day, I pick up one of these books and read 3-5 pages while I\u2019m making coffee, brushing my teeth, or waiting for an Uber. And\u2026 That\u2019s it. <\/p>\n

(Alternatively, if you\u2019re an audiobook fan, keep those three books playing on rotation during your drive to work or your daily workouts.)<\/em><\/p>\n

As simple as this might sound, when you regularly fill your mind with positivity, wisdom, and the voices of individuals who have achieved the results you desire, you will slowly but surely start to rewire your brain and create the unstoppable mindset that will propel you towards those big goals and dreams. <\/p>\n

4. Build a Fence Around Yourself <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether your vice of choice is TV or social media, chances are whatever you watch includes a lot of negativity, political divisiveness, and useless gossip about celebrities (global or local). <\/p>\n

None of this information will matter in a decade, but right now it\u2019s destroying your days.<\/p>\n

The media is a predator and your time is the prey. <\/p>\n

If there\u2019s no fence to keep you safe from these predators, then you\u2019re dead meat. <\/p>\n

You stand no chance and you will quickly be eaten alive by the big bad wolves of distraction and temptation. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s like a sugar addict who tries to keep a big bowl of gummy worms, Swedish Fish, and peach rings \u201cfor the kids\u201d, and then ends up devouring the entire thing themselves. <\/p>\n

To protect yourself from these forces attempting to steal your attention and kill your focus, you must ask yourself, \u201cWhat are the sources of my distractions and what EXTREME must I go to in order to block and eliminate them?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you a solopreneur working from home that needs to rent office space and treat yourself like a 9-5 employee to ensure you don\u2019t get distracted by obligations and problems at home? <\/p>\n

Do you need to set up a website blocker to prevent you from getting sucked into the black hole of surfing the web? <\/p>\n

Do you need to wake up an hour earlier so that you can get a jump start on your day and accomplish a big block of deep work before the rest of the world is even awake? <\/p>\n

What extremes <\/em>must you go to in order to achieve success? <\/p>\n

Until you answer this question and take action on that answer, you\u2019ll never be able to get ahead. Your vices, temptations, and distractions will run your life and cause you to fall further and further behind on your goals and dreams. <\/p>\n

So identify the obstacles standing between you and your goals and do whatever it takes to eliminate them. <\/p>\n

5. Planning Conquers All <\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the end of the day, it is effective planning (and of course the execution of that plan) that will help you regain your motivation, momentum, and focus faster than almost anything else. <\/p>\n

As my business partner, Matt Smith says, \u201cSuccess is all about the fundamentals \u2013 the planning and execution, the blocking and tackling \u2013 done daily. Consistency is key.\u201d<\/p>\n

But most people go through life hoping <\/em>that things will get better, or hoping that they will win the lottery, or that their \u201cship will come in.\u201d <\/p>\n

They hope that their crazy hours will improve but they never actually schedule vacations, days off, or down time during their work day. <\/p>\n

Others hope their marriage will improve but never sit down with their partner and agree to a weekly\u2013and non-negotiable\u2013date night. <\/p>\n

Or maybe they hope <\/em>their body will improve, but they never schedule time to exercise or write down a plan for how they will lose the weight and improve their athleticism. <\/p>\n

By now, you know that hope is not a strategy. And it is only through strategic and intentional planning coupled with massive action that you will make progress. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unable to focus and can\u2019t \u201cfind\u201d the motivation to do what needs to be done everyday, let me ask you\u2026 <\/p>\n

When was the last time you sat down for 45 minutes and created a clear plan of attack for your week? Do you have a designated time each day where you sit down and plan out the next day? Do you begin your work days with a clear set of priorities and tasks that must be accomplished? Or do you just sit down and hope (there\u2019s that word again) for the best? <\/p>\n

Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail. <\/p>\n

Put it in your calendar this <\/em>week to sit down and plan out the things that are most important to you. <\/p>\n

(If you need help with this, be sure to check out my guide to planning the perfect week here<\/a>) <\/p>\n

6. Go and Help Someone <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Throughout my life I\u2019ve found, as cliche as it may seem, the solution to most <\/em>of my problems\u2013be it anxiety, depression, demotivation, or lack of focus\u2013could be resolved by shifting my focus from myself <\/em>to others. <\/p>\n

You see, when you\u2019re focused on yourself it\u2019s easy to get stuck in a negative mental loop. To get trapped in fear, self-pity, and frustration. <\/p>\n

But when you take the spotlight off yourself and off of your problems, you\u2019ll be amazed at how quickly your mindset will change. <\/p>\n

When you focus your energy and attention on other people, preferably people who are not <\/em>paying you (i.e. clients), you\u2019ll be reminded of everything you have to be grateful for. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll gain some much needed perspective on your life and the challenges you\u2019re facing. And the gratitude you\u2019ll gain from this experience will motivate you to make the most of the opportunities you have and, as my friend and podcast guest Ed Mylett<\/a> likes to say, \u201cMax Out\u201d your life. <\/p>\n

So the next time you wake up and you just don\u2019t feel it, I challenge you to remove the focus from yourself. <\/p>\n

Take a long morning to volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Research charities to which you can donate and noble causes to which you can give your time. Pick up the phone and give your grandmother a call. Post an encouraging note on someone\u2019s social media. <\/p>\n

Do something <\/em>to give back to those around you and get out of your own head. <\/p>\n

I promise, it will change your life. <\/p>\n

7. Get to Work <\/strong><\/h2>\n

This list could not be complete without me mentioning my, now famous catchphrase from my book, Unstoppable<\/strong><\/a>. This line has had such an impact on some of my clients that they have it tattooed on their body or painted on the walls of their office, and it goes like this:<\/p>\n

\u201cAction Beats Anxiety. Motion Beats Meditation. Work Beats Worry.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

Look, there will <\/em>be days that, despite the best laid plans, the motivational videos, and the proverbial fences you build around yourself, you will not <\/em>feel motivated or focused. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s fine. <\/p>\n

Show up and get to work anyways.<\/p>\n

Success is rarely determined by how you act when you feel at your best. It\u2019s determined by what you do when you aren\u2019t <\/em>motivated, when you aren\u2019t <\/em>focused, and when you aren\u2019t <\/em>excited about the things you need to do. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether you \u2018feel\u2019 like it or not, put in the effort to show up. Sit down behind the computer, show up at the office, get on the phone with that client. <\/p>\n

Take action and do something <\/em>to move forward no matter what. <\/p>\n

Be the Operator. Get it done, whether you feel like it or not. <\/p>\n

No excuses. <\/p>\n

PS<\/strong> \u2013 If you need a deep dive into the strategies, tools, and formulas that will help you grow your business, beat anxiety, and build an Empire, grab a FREE copy of my new book here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Craig Ballantyne<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Craig<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

If you want to double your income, work less, and become the ambitious millionaire you’ve always wanted to be… Craig Ballantyne is the coach who will help you do it. With more than 20-years of experience as an entrepreneur and five 7-figure businesses under his belt, he specializes in helping “struckling” entrepreneurs get out of the mud and build the business of their dreams. To see if you qualify for Craig’s “Millionaire Coaching Program” send an email to support@earlytorise.com with the subject line “Millionaire”.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n