"My wife and my boss are going to kill me," Karl blurted out."I worked to 11 again last night," he groaned. "I thought you made a commitment to your wife not to work late this month," Andrew said softly. Karl yawned as he started to make a strong coffee. "I did, but you know, things got behind and weren't done the way I wanted so I had to stay back and fix them before the meeting today. But I still didn't get everything done."

"Let's go. I want to get this meeting started," the voice boomed from the large, balding man in the doorway. "Yes boss," Karl replied submissively. He took his coffee and whispered to Andrew, "will you come to my funeral?" in a tone that was half joking, half serious.

Clients often tell me about their dreams and goals, just like Karl's. They tell me they initially get excited but the next day they find them too hard, unrealistic or they just don't know where to begin.

Have You ever set a goal and a day or so later you felt unsure about whether you can really achieve it! Well YOU CAN. The very fact that you clearly thought about your "goal" means you can achieve it. Then why do so many people fail to achieve their goals?

Lack of FOCUS. Yep, not being able to stay focused. Focus is about not being distracted and overcoming procrastination. It is about seeing, feeling and breathing the outcome you want - NOT the one you don't want.

Most time challenged people do not even realize that when they accomplish very little it's because they have been easily distracted from their objectives and priorities. An example of this is when you say you're going to clear your in tray. You start clearing the tray and then your computer bings with the sound of a new e-mail. You stop what you are doing and spend at least 30 minutes reading emails (though you swear it didn't seem that long!).

At the end of the day you discover that the stuff from your in-tray is all over your desk and there seems to be more than there was when you started. So you put everything back and wonder what happened and why you made no progress at all!

If you're going to clear the in tray then, clear the in tray! Do NOT allow yourself to become distracted.

When you drive from work to your home, do you turn down streets that take you further away from home? Probably not. So why do it with a task or project you are working on? Which way DO you drive home? The way that gets you home in the shortest time!

This principle can also be applied equally to any outcome you want. Choose a task and stay focused on only that task until it is completed, in the shortest possible time.

But How do I stay focused?

Most of my clients ask this question. It is a really important question because it is very hard to stay focused today in a 24x7, information overloaded world that constantly interrupts you.

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"I see you are still alive!" Andrew joked as he walked into Karl's office. "How did the meeting go?" "Not too bad - no scars!. But I still have to get all the work done by tomorrow and I just can't seem to stay focused on the task. I am constantly distracted. Now I am really dead, because I am going to have to tell my wife that I will be working late again tonight."

So, What should you do to stay focused?

Here are three ways that my clients find keep them focused.

• What is the best use of my time right now? Ask yourself this question before you start a task. Continue only if your answer is the task you are about to do!
• Set a clear objective and boundary. Write down your objective for the task and the boundaries you will stay within. For example - My objective is to clear my in-tray. My boundaries are that I will process the tray, not do the tasks. I will do this task until the tray is empty. I will not start on anything else.
• Use visual triggers to remind and reset yourself. Using the same example, your trigger could be to put a post-it notes on your computer screen that says "have you finished clearing the in-tray?"
• Hide. Yes I am serious. One of the best ways to stay focused is to be in an environment that helps you stay on task. When you have a really important task that requires your full focus, get away from your desk and find a place where you won't be interrupted.

Yes, it can be that simple. But don't get simple and easy mixed up. Changing your concentration style to make sure you stay focused is not easy. You are faced with so much information, so many interruptions and so many possible tasks, the easiest approach is to manage by reaction. Staying focused requires proactive management.

Karl can get his KPI's AND be home with his family for dinner. I have helped many clients to do this. The starting point is for you to recognise what support you need to make this happen.

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Get your FREE Time Management Course here. and learn How to Stay Focused.

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Links you should visit
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1) A lesson in Life: The Ultimate Gift Video. There are 13 episodes to this heart warming story.

2) Time Management Central.net time management videos to inspire you to use your time wisely.

3) Need help to deal with your workload and your boss? Contact Time Creation for a complimentary consultation on 61 3 9849 1723.

If you would like to use this article feel fr'ee to share it with your own list, post it on your site, on your blog or add it to your autoresponder. As long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. All links must remain in the article. And include this at the end of the article. Michael Erwin is an internationally certified coach who specializes in Time Creation. He has created the unique Time Management for the 21st Century system. Get the FREE version here. He has collected the most effective time management resources, including Time Management Videos and made them available to FREE at https://www.time-management-central.net