Prioritize, Focus and Follow-Through: 3 Skills for Success

Many business owners I talk to feel anxiety. This is not uncommon. I feel it more often than I like. Sometimes we feel anxiety over cash flow concerns. Sometimes it's caused by a downturn in sales. Sometimes we feel like we have not served our customers well and are at risk of losing them to our competitors. Sometimes it's generated by strained relationships.

Sometimes we feel anxiety because we can't seem to get caught up, to get our heads above water, to find time to just relax; to forget about business and focus on our families and refreshing ourselves.

How do we manage this anxiety in a healthy, productive way as entrepreneurs? Let me give you 3 simple steps that will give you peace in the midst of what appears to be an unending storm.

1. Prioritize. I've come to realize that this is a skill that many of us struggle with. We talk about it a lot but it is easier said than done. Here's how I prioritize. First, I do a "brain-dump." I write down on a piece of paper ALL the stuff that is cluttering my mind, everything that I need to do, every detail that I think I must not forget or miss. Every problem I think I must solve. I empty my head of EVERYTHING!
   
   Once I get it on a piece of paper, I rest! Yes, I just give myself permission to forget everything for a few minutes, or maybe even a day. Maybe I take a nap. Maybe I go play. I do something that is refreshing and replenishing. Once it is on paper, I can relax my brain because I know I won't forget something important!
   
   I find that by unloading my mind, clearing my head, and then getting away from all the "stuff" for a little while, I can then think more clearly about what is important and what is really my Priority!
   
   I then ask myself, "What are the 1-3 most urgent items on my list?" I know, you think everything is urgent, right? You must discipline yourself to pick no more than 3. Remember this:
   
   If everything is important, then nothing is important!
   
   You must discipline yourself to sort and choose! Once this is done, then give yourself a deadline for completing these priorities. If you just can't do this, ask someone to help you - a trusted friend, a spouse, possibly a business coach. This is how you prioritize. Learn to master this skill.
2. It is not enough to just prioritize. Now you must Focus on one of your priorities. Great leaders understand the power of focus! They know that this is one of the most powerful tools at their disposal.
   
   To focus means that for a defined period of time I am not going to allow anything to take my attention except this ONE THING! Again this is a mental discipline! Turn off your phone, get away from your inbox or the internet, lock yourself in a room - do whatever you need to do to block out distractions and just focus! Determine ahead of time how long you will give to your focus session and do absolutely nothing else. Focus on this one thing until it is finished or until your designated time is up. You will be amazed at how productive you will be!
3. Finally, Follow Through. Work to develop mental perseverance. If you need help, again, get a trusted friend or accountability partner to help you. If you did not complete your priority in your first focus session, schedule another one asap or extend your current session for another designated amount of time. Determine to repeat this exercise until the task is completed! Once your first priority is completed, repeat the process.

Prioritize, Focus, and Follow-Through. Master these skills and you will discover not only peace of mind, but increased productivity. Teach these 3 skills to your staff. Make it a part of your office or organizational culture. Post it on the wall: P-F-F. Whatever you do, don't stop! Practice these 3 skills everyday!