Tag: distraction

Avoiding Shiny Objects and Time Sucks That Compromise Longevity and Profitability

Let’s talk about efficiency. In my work, I’ve had the honor of serving business owners and organizations ranging from a handful of employees to companies with several hundred on payroll. And no matter the size, one truth keeps surfacing: distraction is the enemy of profitability and longevity.

I see it in the form of “shiny objects.” It could be a new app, a side hustle, an impulsive project, or simply the temptation to do something outside the core vision. Business owners, executives, and staff alike can fall prey to it.

The higher up you go in an organization, the easier it is to keep the team focused. I can usually rein in the owner or executive team with clear accountability. But when it comes to lower-level management and line staff? That’s where things get trickier. And yet, inefficiency at any level of your business, top or bottom, can erode profitability and compromise your vision.

This is why leadership by example is non-negotiable. If you are not modeling focus, clarity, and disciplined energy management, don’t expect your people to. It starts with you.

When I’m on the clock, I treat each tick as a checkpoint, not just for time spent, but for meaning made. I pause to review my own progress, asking myself:

    • Did I contribute something of substance?
    • Did I initiate or progress something that, though incomplete, accrues value over time and contributes to future outcomes?
    • Was my effort aligned with my deeper goals, or merely reactive?

Goals to Put in Place for Yourself

    1. Clarify your vision. Know exactly what success looks like for you and your organization, and say “no” to everything that doesn’t align with it.
    2. Commit to a daily discipline. Time-block your day. Prioritize the needle-moving activities, and guard your schedule against distractions and interruptions.
    3. Practice extreme accountability. Track your time, your decisions, and your progress. Share your goals with a mentor, board, or accountability partner.
    4. Lead transparently. Let your team see your consistency in action. Demonstrate that efficiency isn’t just a slogan, it’s your lifestyle.
    5. Audit your energy. Ask yourself often: “Is what I’m doing right now profitable? Is it moving us toward the goal?” If not, redirect.

Tips for Raising the Expectations of Your Staff

    1. Set crystal-clear expectations. Ambiguity breeds inefficiency. Define roles, responsibilities, and success metrics for each position.
    2. Track performance visibly. Use dashboards, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and scoreboards. What gets measured gets managed.
    3. Encourage initiative within boundaries. Give staff the freedom to innovate, but tie their ideas back to the vision and profitability goals.
    4. Model focus in meetings. Start on time, end on time, stay on point. Teach your staff how to honor efficiency by watching you.
    5. Enforce consequences. Inefficiency costs money. Reward focus, redirect those who are drifting, and release those who resist growth.

Incentives and Alignment

Don’t underestimate the power of recognition and reward. Incentivize those who follow your lead and add measurable value. At the same time, watch for employees who may be misaligned. Some are simply in the wrong seat on the bus. Reassign them if possible. But if their inefficiency continues to drain resources? Let them go. You are not required to carry dead weight.

The Payoff

When everyone is aligned, distractions are minimized, and leadership by example is strong, your business transforms. Cash flow improves. Profits rise. Stress decreases. And most importantly, you create an organization that can stand the test of time, a well-oiled machine built not just to survive, but to thrive.

Now, let me add this: don’t look to government agencies for a model of efficiency. Municipal, state, and federal organizations often operate with little accountability. Your business cannot afford to follow their example. You are accountable to yourself, your staff, your customers, and your investors.

So celebrate efficiency. Celebrate profitability. And celebrate your leadership as the example that turns distraction into focus, and shiny objects into a disciplined pursuit of vision.

 

Prioritize Priorities and Avoid Life’s Purpose Distractions!

You’ve begun answering your higher calling and pursuing your life’s purpose. Congratulations! However, stepping into this divine path is not without challenges. The moment you commit to your mission, the universe, and the forces that thrive on the status quo, may respond with distractions and obstacles designed to deter you. But take heart: these distractions are not just obstacles; they are also signs that you’re on the right path and have the potential to make a profound difference.

Recognizing the Distractions

When you align with your higher purpose, you will likely encounter situations that test your resolve. These distractions can manifest in various ways, including:

  1. Financial Struggles: Sudden expenses, job instability, or an unexpected financial burden can cause stress and divert your focus.
    • Example: You might save money to invest in a meaningful project, only to face unexpected car repairs or medical bills.
  2. Physical or Emotional Challenges: Health issues, emotional burnout, or even relational conflicts can arise to drain your energy and enthusiasm.
    • Example: You may find yourself exhausted or facing a difficult relationship that demands emotional attention right when you’re gaining momentum in your purpose.
  3. Media Overload: Catastrophic news cycles, social media distractions, or entertainment that eats up your time can shift your focus from your purpose.
    • Example: Breaking news of disasters or controversies may capture your attention and leave you feeling hopeless or powerless.
  4. Unexpected Life Events: Family emergencies, accidents, or sudden changes in your environment can shake your foundation and make it harder to focus.
    • Example: A loved one falling ill or a sudden move might seem to demand all your attention, leaving little room for purpose-driven pursuits.
  5. Internal Doubts: Negative self-talk or fear of failure can creep in, amplified by external challenges.
    • Example: “What if I’m not good enough?” or “What if I fail?” These thoughts can paralyze your progress.

Recognizing Distractions as Signs of Your Potential

Here’s the reframe: the more profound your impact could be, the greater the resistance you may face. The powers that thrive on the current vibration of the planet sense the transformative energy you bring, and they do not want the world to change. The very presence of these distractions could signify your growing influence and potential.

Power Shift and Continue On Your Path

Rather than succumbing to these challenges, use them as fuel to deepen your resolve and stay on track. Here’s how:

1. Prioritize Your Priorities

    • Identify the most critical aspects of your purpose.
    • Dedicate daily time, however small, to work toward these goals.
    • Use tools like time-blocking, lists, or affirmations to maintain focus.

2. Practice Resilience in Baby Steps

    • Even small actions toward your purpose compound over time.
    • When challenges arise, break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
    • Celebrate small wins to maintain momentum.

3. Reframe Obstacles as Validation

    • Each distraction or challenge can be seen as evidence of your potential impact.
    • Ask yourself: “What is this challenge teaching me? How can I use it to grow?”

4. Limit Media Consumption

    • Reduce your exposure to negative or fear-inducing media.
    • Replace it with uplifting or purpose-driven content that inspires and informs your mission.

5. Strengthen Your Support System

    • Surround yourself with individuals who encourage and believe in your vision.
    • Seek mentors, coaches, or groups that align with your purpose.

6. Stay Spiritually Aligned

    • Meditate, pray, or connect with your higher power daily.
    • Reaffirm your mission and call on divine guidance when faced with challenges.
How to Find Your Life Purpose
How to Find Your Life Purpose

Examples of Turning Distractions into Momentum

  1. Financial Struggles
    • Reframe: Use budgeting as an opportunity to refine your resourcefulness. Financial constraints can also redirect you toward more creative, impactful solutions.
  2. Emotional Burnout
    • Reframe: Pause and practice self-care. Use rest as a reset, allowing you to return to your purpose with renewed clarity.
  3. Negative News
    • Reframe: See the news as a call to action rather than despair. Let it fuel your determination to be a light in the darkness.
  4. Health Challenges
    • Reframe: Use this time to develop habits that strengthen your physical and mental resilience. Your purpose is a marathon, not a sprint.

The Cumulative Power of Persistence

Every step you take, no matter how small, adds to the collective energy of your purpose. Remember, done is better than none. The world may not notice every effort immediately, but over time, these actions create ripples that grow into waves of change.

The world needs you now more than ever. Your calling is vital, and your contribution is irreplaceable. Keep going, even against the odds. With every act of persistence, you strengthen not only your resolve but also the positive transformation you bring to the world.

I believe in you. Stay on your path, and remember: the distractions are not stronger than your purpose. You are making a difference, step by step, day by day. Keep shining.

 

What Are the 3 Circles of Influence?

As coaches, we are often charged with helping individuals carve out better paths to travel along their life’s journey. What are the 3 circles of influence? The three circles of influence were brought to light in mainstream coaching by Stephen Covey in his The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and it is a highly effective method of helping sort out the concerns one has in a client’s life.

Your concerns can draw an enormous amount of energy from your resources, so it is important to sort out the details to better focus your attention and energy where it can be useful and have the most impact on your life. The three circles of influence are a great tool for use in this sifting and sorting process.

Once you have completed the work of delineating the three areas which include the things you can control, those things which you can influence, and those things which you have no influence over, then you can choose to focus your energy and attention on the appropriate information as they come to your awareness. This leads to a happier more productive life.

To start, draw three circles on a piece of paper and label them as Control, Influence, and Concerns.

Next place the subjects which you are concerned about throughout your day is each appropriate circle.

Control

In the circle titled “Control” put all the things, you are concerned or passionate about over which you have total control. These will come easily to you, slowly at first, then more rapidly as we go along.

Influence

The “Influence” circle is for all the things that you are concerned about that you may not have direct control over but may have some influence over and could potentially shift the direction of a concern or its momentum by adding your attention or energy to it.

For instance, you may not be able to tell someone what to do, but you could influence them by talking to them, persuading them, or helping to emotionally support or finance them. These are examples of influence.

Concerns

While all these issues which you may or may not have control or influence of garner your attention and could potentially distract you from achieving your highest and best, the circle of “Concerns” contains all those things that you neither have control nor influence over.

No matter what they are or how passionately you feel about them, you simply cannot do anything about them. They go in the circle of concerns.

As you move through this process, if you think more about the items in your circle of concerns that you feel like they are totally out of your control whatsoever, you may realize that you may be able to have some influence over them. Then you can move them to the influence circle.

And if you discover that you have more control over things in your circle of influence than you first gave yourself credit for, you could move them to your circle of control.

Once you have completed this task, you will have charted out those things which you have control or influence over and those that you simply can have no effect on, no matter how passionately you feel about them.

The remaining list of concerns? Just forget about them. Stop wasting your time, attention, and energy thinking or worrying about them.

Focus your attention and energy on those things you either have control of, or can influence, and avoid the others, they are only distractions which drain your precious energy and resources. Stop worrying about them.

Distracted Much?

You ever notice how many distractions abound in the world around you? It seems like every second of every day, you are hit with a constant barrage of data, information, unsettling news, wild stories, other people’s complaints, things that bother or upset you, life tugging on your shirt vying for your attention. It’s as if there was an unseen force exerting itself via any means available to keep you from doing what it is that you want to (or need to) do.

Especially, if you’ve done the work of determining what your Purpose, Message, Passion, and Mission (PMPM) in life is. You’ve discovered what will bring you real satisfaction, joy, peace, and harmony in life, but all these constant distractions are keeping you from focusing on fully living the life you were intended to live.

What if everything that distracts you was designed to do just that?

What if there was an entity comprised of individuals and/or energies whose entire purpose was to keep you from achieving your highest and best? What if this group, organization, or other type of entity was charged only with your distraction 24/7? To design a constant flow of data and/or drama to interrupt any divine thought you might have about being all that you could be?

Hmm…

There is no doubt, that every time you try to focus on doing something massively good, really making a valid contribution to your family, community, or the world at large, what happens?

You are interrupted by distraction. Sometimes the distraction is just a part of ordinary life, in other times it is Earth-shattering. Interestingly enough, the result is the same.

Any momentum you may have gained building toward your heart’s desire, fulfilling your purpose, spreading your message, engaging in those activities that you are passionate about, while accomplishing your life’s sacred mission, is lost in a heartbeat when you stroll is completely disrupted by anything but that which you would love to have active in your life.

It’s the commercial about abused animals, it’s the neighbors arguing loudly in the middle of the night, it’s the dent in your car which showed up while it was safely parked, it’s the lack of finances, it’s the inconsistencies your noticing in your partner, it’s the feeling like you’re not being recognized for your contributions, it’s the Facebook meme that infuriates you, it’s the unexpected attention of an old friend (or foe) from the past, its any of 35,000 things that interrupt your thoughts and intentions every day.

Do you think its any coincidence that all this news, the rumors, and circumstances are slowing your roll or derailing your train of thought constantly all day, all night, long?

No.

Think about it.

What if you were able to achieve your highest and best, to live a better life, your best life, and make the world a better place? What impact would that have on your family, friends, community, and the world?

Maybe, if one person could break through the muck and mire of everyday existence to answer their life’s calling, the system might be able to quash the inspired murmurings of one person. One. But what about two, or more? What about hundreds, or thousands, of inspired individuals reaching for the stars, embracing their own power, and having a massive impact? What would happen then?

The system which represents the life we’ve all come to expect as “normal,” the profiting of the few off the backs of the many, would no longer be sustainable. The system would collapse, and an enlightened people would rise up with true individual valuation and freedom, unencumbered by the profiteers.

In the meantime, none of us (because I include myself in the equation) is exempt from the constant attention-grabbing tsunami which fights to keep us distracted from achieving our highest and best.

I can hear a horrifying story on the news and be completely disempowered in the moment, just as any one of us would be.

Psst… (here’s a secret): If I allow them to throw me off-track, they’ve won, again. They’ve won.

But…

There is a way to thwart the power-hungry “powers that be” (I intentionally put that in quotations because I think their days are numbered) who seek to keep an unenlightened populace enslaved can be challenged.

But it’s up to us (you and me) to recognize all those distractions for what they are. It’s all illusion, just smoke and mirrors, designed to keep us from achieving our full potential and evolving into the next generation of Earthlings which will emerge is a power unlike any other known in the universe.

So, the next time you see it (whatever it is), see it for what it is: a distraction. You may acknowledge it, the importance of it, but then quickly refocus your attention on those things which feed your soul and promote your life’s work.

Don’t let them distract you anymore.

Whatever it is, it is not your department. If it is outside of your direct control, it is what it is. Let it be, and keep moving forward.

Then, let them deal with you, and all of us who are joining you in the evolutionary expansion of mankind.

As we do, each of us individually and all of us collectively, their system will crumble and fall to the ground.

Our expansion and authentic freedom is just around the corner (and they are not liking it. Not one bit).

You are the answer.

Rejoice!

Shiny Objects Everywhere

Ever get distracted by shiny objects? Those things that are newer, better things or processes that garner your attention with their sheer brilliance, clever packaging, advertising or have the possibility of garnering the support and love from your family and/or peers are indeed so shiny.

shiny-objects-everywhere-distractions-or-tools

They immediately distract you and pull on strings deep inside you and you imagine how magnificent it would be, “if I only had” that, or one of those, then my life (family, or business) would be complete.

Only, more often than not, the shiny object does not meet your expectations of fulfillment following obtaining the thing you sincerely desired and believed it would help you to achieve the sought after feeling. So, the search is on for the next thing.

This not only applies to products, but relationships, education, programs, services, technology, social networks, investment and business opportunities. You can find shiny objects in any segment of your life and in most cases, the shiny object is a distraction, interrupting your otherwise focused progress in your life.

Because, let’s face it, even if you have the best (insert anything) once you get used to it, you start looking for something else a bit shinier.

It’s never more apparent in our society in relationships which have become somewhat disposable due to the social impact of the acceptance of the idea of disposing of something old (or has lost its sheen) and replacing it with something new is actually a good thing. Certainly, it makes sense from a profit standpoint, because in most circumstances transitioning in relationships creates additional cash-flow supporting our economy.

As it occurs to you, you might think, “Oh, so it’s a profit deal.”
Pretty much, that’s the truth. We owe a debt to the economy for encourage the deterioration of the family unit as well as other relationships, personal and in business.

And if you think it’s easy to abandon a relationship when it gets boring as you seek an alternative, think about how much more difficult it is to stay focused on a particular business interest, especially if you’re starting from ground zero.

That’s why most new businesses fail in the first one-to-three years. Two-thirds of the entrepreneurs throw in the towel and never try again, because the whole affair was a bust, leading to a lack of self-confidence, as they find safety and security restrained to their more convenient everyday life, yet always wondering, “What if…” things had gone differently?

Then there’s the other third of the former business owners who are endlessly in pursuit of the next new thing. They are often distracted by shiny objects in business opportunities, programs or systems, even prior to successfully completing the projects at hand. We call them serial entrepreneurs.

On and on it goes for them, one thing after another, never finishing one thing and they’re off to the next. Although this is an inefficient method of business building, unfortunately one percent of serial entrepreneurs breaks through (even if accidentally) and makes a fortune.

This success story spreads through the serial entrepreneurial community quickly, encouraging the remaining seekers to increase their shiny object pursuits even more. The energy created from the success of the one percent that it even attracts otherwise healthy business owners (as well as people who have never even thought of starting a business) to start looking for shiny objects too.

A shiny object can be a tool, or a destructive distraction.

Think about taking a little extra time and thought prior to jumping ship, or investing in your next shiny object and ask yourself,

“Does this support my highest and best?”

If you have a clear set of defined goals, you can use this list to quickly qualify any shiny object.

Will it be a tool?

Or

Will it be a destructive distraction?

Stay on track and don’t count yourself as one of the accidental one percent, instead purposefully honor your purpose and mission, so that when you’ve become a member of the one percent, you know you can rest assured, it was no accident and your success is honorable and well deserved.

We Interrupt This Program

You are on the path of personal growth and enlightenment. You are making excellent strives as your heart and mind increasingly open to the possibilities as your consciousness expands…

A level of mass consciousness exists that permeates the inhabitants of the earth. How—or for what reason—these ideas and concepts are nurtured and promoted as they continue to proliferate is a subject for debate, or you can relax and realize it simply is what it is.

Just when you have a clue that there may be more, life will cause another interruption: misunderstandings (carrying heavy emotional impact), natural disasters, political unrest and polarity, inhumane actions, breaches of security, a terrorist attack, a disfiguring or fatal disease outbreak, growing rates of depression, suicide, wars and rumors of wars… a near endless supply of distractions designed to pull your mind out of the ethers and place your attention firmly back on terra firma.

Yet, despite the distractions, you – the chosen one – persist and press on to the new awakenings ahead. So, here you are, growing and expanding beyond what might be considered prudent by the general population and other unseen forces who sense you are on the brink of a breakthrough.

You are abruptly interrupted when you’re about to move to the next level of your evolution.

We interrupt this program emergency broadcast system distraction law of attraction

As you approach this brink, alarms begin to sound in unseen stations in, through, and surrounding our communities, sending waves of uncomfortable discord emerging within your neighboring family, loved ones, and citizenry, signaling them to notice your growth and do whatever is necessary to save you from your impending demise.

Many distractions and obstacles prevent the masses from considering a path of expanded consciousness. Many societal systems (the Internet) and media manipulations are effective distractions that keep most of us in moderate fear. In most cases, this fear is necessary to keep the sui generis from seeking higher truth.

But you have been called—and you answered the call—to maintain your conscious evolution without regard to a lifetime of programming and all of the tools and systems in place to keep you in line with the managed mind of the general populace.

Meanwhile, you must be stopped. You are a threat to all belief systems put in place to control the people of the world. You will be disrespected, ridiculed, and possibly the subject of intervention… anything to save you from taking a bite from the fruit of knowledge.

It is common for individuals to meet massive disapproval for personal growth and change. People are (and the world is) threatened by you. People will hate you and want to drag you down to their level. It is the nature of the mob cult. Still, because of their numbers, they see themselves as “normal” and you as the black sheep that some believe must be saved (brought back into acceptable alignment with the masses) or (though more extreme) destroyed (for your own good, to save you from a fate worse than death).

Since the most prolific new thought leaders have short life spans (as they are assassinated or—more recently—simply die prematurely of “natural causes”), those of us on the path to enlightenment continue to progress and grow, though independently and subversively, in an attempt to survive for the benefit of the greater good.

As we continue to expand in numbers, power, and consciousness, growing love and light affect our planet and all its inhabitants with very little notice… and things are beginning to change.

Oh, you might not see it with the naked eye, but it is there—and you are part of it—for without you and the rest of us, it would not be possible.

Even though the media—and all the powers controlling this planet—would like you to think that we are in dire straits or on the brink of disaster (or the end of the world), there is a growing consciousness that will continue to guide our planet toward the entertaining miraculous and lead us to true happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace.

God bless you for taking the high road.

 

Media Distraction Challenge

So, here we are, on our life journey in the pursuit of happiness with a desire to achieve our highest and best while making the world a better place. We’re focused with clear intention, getting to know who we are, what our life’s purpose is and know where we’re going…

Just then, the phone rings, you win a free prize, there’s a knock on the door, you’re involved in a fender-bender, there’s a sale at Macy’s, you get a buy one get one free coupon, a new reality TV show comes out promising to be more outrageous than the last or you witness a terrible tragedy on the television.

Distraction Disruptive interruption of your pursuit in taking action to achieve your highest and bestAny of these – and a nearly unlimited host of other things – break your concentration, distracting you from your life’s work. Some of the distractions affect you so deeply that investigating and researching them could consume you so much, that you could forget your unique personal calling altogether.

In fact, with the prevalence of the information age, it is clearly nearly impossible to maintain any level of focus without being interrupted by a cell phone text, telemarketers, broadcast advertisements, facebook memes and messages, twitter tweets and youtube videos, not to mention Google.

How many times have I Googled something to simply find a quick answer, only to awake from a Google-search-trance that consumed far more time than I had planned to spend there? Many more times than I would probably want to count, or admit.

Today, we are fortunate to work fewer hours than we did a hundred years ago; the average worker’s hours spent laboring went from 70 hours a week to 40 hours a week. That’s 30 more hours a week that each one of us could spend achieving out highest and best and making the world a better place.

Only, what is it that we actually do with those extra 30 hours a week? It may not surprise you to realize that those hours are spent recreationally in front of a television, computer, on a tablet or smart-phone, consuming entertainment, information and drivel at ridiculously rapid rates and velocity.

Television and media says I am No youre not animated

Most of us realize that television and the news is controlled by someone-or-something that filters and uses the data to get us to react in certain ways; to frighten us, make us angry, polarize us against each other or rally us into supporting a cause we otherwise would have not agreed with, etc…

Isn’t it time that we took control of the media, instead of letting the media control us?

Do you have what it takes to take the

Media Distraction Challenge

Media Distraction Challenge

The Media Distraction Challenge has two options:

1 Take back one hour per day to be free-and-clear of all media to spend focusing on you and your life’s mission
Or take the ultimate challenge
2 Unplug from all media, maximizing your effectiveness in the world exponentially

It may be difficult to imagine participating in a media hiatus, living without your media connections, television shows, etc…

One thing for certain; taking control from the mass manipulators and unplugging from the force-fed-media disarms them empowering you.

It’s time to take YOU back.