As I’ve had the privilege of supporting digital marketers over the past 4 years, there are 2 major strengths that I see in nearly every digital marketer I’ve worked with. The first strength is they are extremely quick learners (hey, you have to be to keep up with all the Facebook, LinkedIn and Google changes). The second strength is being very savvy with marketing tactics (the how-to’s).
In spite of these two amazing strengths, the biggest thing that’s holding them back from being as successful as they could be is the lack of focus. With such drive and attraction to learning new things, I am not surprised at all by this.
Actually, I have to admit…I’m naturally a lot like this. Many medical experts call it the “Shiny Object Syndrome”. I prefer to say, “I’m just passionate about so many things” (remember denial is a sure sign you have a problem:)
Because focus can be such a major hurdle to progress for digital marketers, I dedicate the First 30 Days in my 6-Figure Freedom coaching program to developing focus. I call it “Focus In 30“.
During the first 30 days, there is no diving into new business models, teaching sales funnels or implementing the latest client attraction strategies. Everything just revolves around getting clear about their vision for their business and life, getting focused on the essential actions to get them there, and freeing up more time to spend with their family or those they love.
So why take so much time on the front-end to get focused first?
I’ve got a four-letter answer for you…TIME. You need to have to the TIME to learn new things and implement what you learn. With most digital markers I know already with calendars at max or near max levels, it would be pointless to pile on the learning and tasks, without freeing up extra time to take action. Not a recipe for success.
Here’s why freeing up TIME is such a big deal. The one great equalizer that all human beings have is TIME. No one has 25 hours in a day; everyone all have 24. So how we choose to spend those 24 hours is what separates us from the pack. It sounds pretty simple, right?
But the demands of our time are greater now than they’ve ever been in human history. Information is coming at us faster than we can digest it. Responsibilities are handed to us faster than we can handle them and communication moves at us at fiber-optic speeds. So, finding ways to get the most important thing done within our day is a daunting task to say the least.
Too many of us go through our day allowing distractions to dictate our activities. We’re in a constant state of reacting to the needs and interruptions of distractions; things like emails, phone calls, text messages, voice mails, meetings, etc.
So however well-intentioned we are, we often allow the priorities of others to supersede our own. So, think to yourself for a minute. How often have you had a project that required time and focus to get done, but an email or phone call distracted you, and then you go down a rabbit hole that you never got back out of? We’ve all been there.
So working in a perpetual state of shifting tasks and refocusing attention creates three things; fatigue, stress and decreased productivity.
Did you know that every time you get distracted, it takes an average of 15 minutes to completely regain focus? 15 minutes! That’s just crazy.
So unless you are intentionally managing your time, there’s a very good chance that you’re operating in a constant state of unfocused reactions. If that’s the case, you’re not being nearly as effective or productive as you could be and you’re simply not giving yourself, your clients, your team or your love ones your best.
Side Note: I just want you to know when I say giving them your best, your best isn’t defined by how hard you work, it’s defined the results and the experience you deliver.
I want to see you get amazing results, deliver an outstanding experience and live the life of freedom you dreamed of when you first started your business.
In future weeks, I’ll be sharing more resources to help you become more focused, productive and free.
Chris Rudolph is a husband, father of 3, and a Freedom Business Coach for Digital Marketers. He specializes in working with those who are underpaid, hustling around the clock or missing out on valuable family time build their own Freedom Agency. He helps them grow their income, scale with a team and enjoy more time with their family.
Connect with Chris Rudolph on Twitter, Facebook, and on LinkedIn
