Remember Bruce Lee?
The name Bruce Lee commands respect and admiration from all over the world. The diminutive man, who stood 1.73 meters tall and weighed less than 65 kilograms, is considered by many as the greatest martial artist of the 20th century. His dynamic on-screen style and stunts impressed fans from all walks of life, and he became one of the most enduring screen icons in the history of motion pictures.
He was a hero to many young boys. In the 1970’s young men from across the world wanted to be Bruce Lee.
He worked hard. He trained hard. He had a tremendous work ethic.
Bruce Lee was once quoted saying, “a successful warrior is an average man with laser-like focus.”
That’s easy to say but with all the daily worries, troubles and concerns we have to deal with, it’s pretty hard to do.
The ability to concentrate and focus is a daunting task, especially when your mind is ridden with stress and distractions.
When was the last time you listened to a public speaker?
Did you have laser-like focus and concentration throughout the speech?
Studies show that a person can listen to something only for so long, which is why speakers are urged to keep their talks short and succinct.
Long speeches that ramble on and on get people fidgety, and in the long run, all they’ll hear is blah, blah, blah, blah.
Then the true message of the speech is lost. In fact, a lousy speaker doesn’t think that less is more. For them, more is what they think the audience want.
Many people have a hard time concentrating and focussing.
But maintaining focus throughout the whole day is very difficult to do. It’s not entirely impossible, but highly improbable.
Think about the following factors, the next time you are distracted and ask yourself why you just couldn’t concentrate on your work:
* The noises that surround you
* Your state of health
* The level of confidence you have in yourself
* Your work environment – is it conducive?
* The outside factors that force you to direct your attention elsewhere
* The amount of work you actually have to do (too much or too little)
Today, multi-tasking is a must, especially if you want to succeed in your work.
Unfortunately, there are also more demands placed upon you as the world continues to grow and develop. Focus plays a key role on your way to success. Although there are some things which are simply out of your control, you also must work on the aspects that are in your control.
I believe the following are in your control:
1. Learn how to remove yourself from all the distractions. A quiet corner and a locked door make a world of difference.
2. Learn not to give in to temptations. When you hear the television blaring, don’t go and see what show is playing at that moment.
3. Learn to push yourself to the limit if you want success.
4. Learn to have planned and rewarded breaks. If concentrating is just too difficult at the moment, then reward yourself with a few minutes breather. For every two hours concentration have a 10-minute break.
Think about the benefits you’ll reap when you push yourself. No one rewards the lazy, and pitfalls come to those who procrastinate.
Learn the value of focus and concentration and experience the benefits.
Andrew Rondeau is the author of the free guide “The Simple Steps To Deliver A Dazzling Presentation”. Grab your complimentary copy at http://www.greatmanagement.org/blog/ today and start mastering public speaking.