Focusing , this is a problem for so many of us, I know I’m not alone.

This is one area that I’m determined to master during 2009.

I make all these to do lists, task lists, get ‘er done lists, you name it and I have made the list.

A huge difference in working/running a business online to working/running a business offline is the distractions.

Offline, because what happens daily in your business is mostly related to what your business is about. Staying focused is not such a problem.

I owned florist shops and before the big days, like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, for about eight weeks, there was so much planning, so much focusing on that one big day, that there wasn’t any room mentally for anything else, apart from the day to day running of the business.

It was such a natural thing to do, focus on what was needed to make that big day a success, because that is what was all around you.

So I know I am capable of ‘doing’ the focusing.

The big difference is the Internet is changing so much and at an almost faster than a flash rate. There are so many opportunities presented to you and updates are happening all the time.

While some of these changes on the Internet, will take your attention because they are new, others take your attention because they will improve the way you can operate, or will be something that you have been using that is updated and has a few more whizbangs that need learning and adjusting.

So the focus is shifted sideways.

I use WordPress a lot and it is forever being upgraded both the platform and the plugins that make it work so well. Plugins upgraded and new plugins that will perform a function you may have been looking for or will solve a problem you have.

Now this is not a bad thing, quite the opposite. But…..to take advantage of these upgrades, takes your focus away from the job at hand because you can see that by implementing the upgrade, will save you time later, solve your problem now etc.

That is just one little scenario, there are many others.

I do know that when working at home, it is easy to say, I can finish that up later, like after dinner when everything has settled down. That for me can be a really productive time too but it is too easy as well when the distractions come along through the day.

So, a better plan of working is what is needed, that’s for sure. If you Google the words, focus and focusing there are lots of results and lots of meanings, the most relevant to my needs would be these

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focusing

“focus is just a short period of time to concentrate on the immediate task at hand so that it can be completed, not the absence of all else around”

One of the Merriam-Webster dictionary Focus meanings that are close to what I want the meaning to be for my purposes are:-

“A center of activity, attraction or attention. or a point of concentration”

Maybe the above meanings will get me started on my plan to keep myself focused for 2009 and beyond.

If you are like me and have this problem, let’s know your ideas for getting on track and focusing in 2009 and beyond.

There are many other things I wish for in 2009, but these four are the main ones for my online business.

Take care

Cheers
Carmel

PS I’ve been looking for an idea to help me with this focusing, kind of center me and just before I posted this, I found something that looks good.  Will get beck here and let you know if it is going to work.