Grant Cardone writes in his book, The 10x Rule: “I challenge you to keep track of how you’re spending your available time… Most people have no clue what they are doing with their time but still complain that they don’t have enough.”
Sound familiar? – the part about not really knowing what you’re doing with your time, but still complaining that you don’t have enough?
I know it does to me, and that’s why over the past 5+ years I’ve continued to study, practice, improve and do my best to share with others how to become more productive, disciplined and focused.
I know productivity, discipline and focus may not be your top traits – they aren’t mine, either.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t develop, or better yet, master these traits with a little help.
I can assure you it’ll be worth it, because productivity, discipline and focus will become your guiding light in regards to accomplishing the goals you set for yourself and for your business.
And THAT is why they are so important on your entrepreneurial journey.
What being productive, disciplined and focused means
So let’s do this: I’ll share a brief description of exactly what being productive, disciplined and focused means so we’re all on the same page, and with that description, I’ll also share one step you can take TODAY to start mastering each of these traits on your entrepreneurial journey.
Being Productive
Being productive: Accomplishing tasks that MATTER to you and your business.
Accomplishing tasks that MATTER to you and your business is easier said than done – am I right?
But what if you could end every single day by looking back at the work you’ve accomplished and thinking to yourself:
Wow, I’ve been super productive today!
If you often end your day this way, then kudos! But you’re in the minority…
Being productive is something everyone wants, but people rarely work hard enough to achieve it consistently.
This reminds me of a Stephen King quote: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
Are you spending your days waiting for inspiration to strike?
How often do you honestly feel productive?
If it’s not as often as you’d like, then you’re in for a treat. Increasing productivity can help you get to where you want to go faster.
Here’s a quick tip on how to begin mastering productivity
Each night before you end your work day, write down the ONE task or project you must complete the next day.
When you plan ahead in this way, you’ll be crushing your top priority not just some days, but every day!
Mastery of productivity is at your fingertips. Will you take on the challenge?
Being Disciplined
Being discipline: Setting and sticking to a plan of ACTION.
Setting and sticking to a plan of action is TOUGH.
Distractions are EVERYWHERE.
Not the first time you’ve heard that line before, right?
It’s time to stop using that excuse.
It’s up to YOU to make the choice – to make the change – to make the commitment.
And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone.
It doesn’t have to be this scary, unattainable hope or dream that you’re constantly doubting whether you can achieve.
As Samuel Butler said, “If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.”
Here’s a quick tip on how you can start mastering discipline
For your next task or project, instead of just diving in and “seeing what happens”, actually write out the steps you need to take in order to accomplish it.
Once you’ve written out the individual steps, put time deadlines on each of those steps.
Then FOCUS on those deadlines!
Speaking of FOCUS…
Being Focused
Being focused: Following ONE course until success and remaining distraction free in the process.
On average, how much “Focus Time” do you have on a daily basis?
Is it 20 minutes?
2 Hours?
NONE?
Focus Time is gold.
20 Minutes of FOCUS is worth 20 hours of distracted ‘busy work’.
Tim Ferriss wrote in his book The 4-Hour Workweek, “Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
I LOVE talking about focus because it has played a HUGE part in the success of EOFire.
Here’s a quick tip on how to start mastering focus in your every day
Use an online timer like e.ggtimer.com and give yourself specific time blocks when working on tasks.
During these time blocks make a promise to yourself that you will not let distractions push you off course.
If something comes up – an idea, something else you know you need to work on, or a notification pops up – write it down so you don’t forget about it, and then immediately get back on task.
As Peter Drucker says, “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.”
The Mastery Journal
If you’re looking for guidance when it comes to mastering productivity, discipline and focus on a daily basis, then we know you’re going to love The Mastery Journal: Master productivity, discipline and focus in 100 days.
The Mastery Journal is live on Kickstarter and the best reward levels are going fast! Head over to TheMasteryJournal.com to check it out!
Up next in Season 4 on What it means to be an entrepreneur
We all know that entrepreneurship isn’t easy.
If you’re looking for something easy, just go ahead and continue doing whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
Up next, we’re going to be talking about mindset struggles and facing fear as an entrepreneur.
You can visit our home base right here to find all the posts and episodes in Season 4!
