Having problems staying focused these days on developing your career? I can totally understand. Between people calling or stopping by, meetings, practice, gigs, things to do, information overload, etc., you can lose your way or your career can stagnate.
So, let’s think of why this is happening, how to put some structure to our day and put our career back on track. These ideas can just as easily be applied to your music or the business side of life:
1.) You’re not finding time to clear your head.
- Yep, we all need time to “chill”, relax, and clear our head of all the clutter.
2.) You don’t make room for some “thinking” time each day to review your goals and think through your schedule for the day.
- Initially, if you don’t have any goals, this may take a little more time, but the idea is to set aside a few minutes to remember why your doing this and to keep you on track.
3.) You don’t pick a manageable number of compelling, clear, and specific Goals.
- I’d suggest maybe only having 2-3 initially. You can add more as you become more adept at staying on the right path. Clarity drives action. If you have a very good reason for accomplishing the goal then it’ll get done. The question to ask yourself is “How important is it?”.
4.) You haven’t created a small number of weekly actions for each goal.
- Again, maybe 2-3 or less. Focus on making progress no matter how small. If you try to tackle to much you’ll probably get frustrated with not making much progress, if any.
5.) You haven’t assigned a time on your calendar, and an owner if needed, to work them each week.
- There’s not much to say about this one. We haven’t to put the effort in it to get things done..
6.) You don’t look at your Goals each day.
- Print them out so you, and your band mates, can see them each day. Put your daily focus on where you want to go.
7.) You aren’t reviewing your overall progress.
- Similar to 5.) above but this is more of a monthly review. You may have achieved your goals, or need to alter there course.
8.) You aren’t holding yourself Accountable.
- How do I do this you ask? Well, tell a friend, a family member, or a mentor about your goals and ask them to bring them up from time to time. The act of just telling them once will provide some internal desire for accountability.
9.) You’re not having fun.
If this is the case, then here’s a couple of questions for you:
- Do you have too many goals or actions? If so, cut back.
- Are you not interested in working on your goals/actions? If not, then you need to re-evaluate their importance to your career and either re-assess their value, hire someone to do them or re-evaluate your career choice.
- Sorry about the last one there, but it’s true. Follow your passion not the money. If it is your passion, then contentment will come because you’ll be loving what you do!
What are some other ways you’re staying focused on your career?
