Focus on the big prize

I think that "focus" is one of the most important words to use in business - and in life for that matter. Whether it's working on goals or daily tasks, focus gets us directed toward the finish line.

Success often is not measured - or even accomplished - just by the length of time someone pursues an activity, but by how diligent and on-point they were along the way. In a word, this is focus.

With today's NCAA men's basketball tournament getting underway - "March Madness" as it is called - there are 64 hopeful entrants. Some have more physical talent than the other teams, and some enter the tournament seemingly better prepared by virtue of the caliber of teams they've played along the way. Still, it's anybody's tournament until the first game is played.

This got me thinking about focus. There are just 6 wins required from the opening round until the crowning of the national champion - 6 wins. Now, there can be no miscues along the ways, no muilligans. This is win or go home.

Neverteless, with extreme focus, and that should help with the execution, a team - without looking past their current opponent to the next game (for which there may be no "next game") - needs to win just 6 games in a row to gain the crown.

Focus on each game and win it, but focus on the total task of 6 wins total, and you've got a national title vision.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Hope x 64

Today is March Madness - the start of the men's college basketball tournament to determine the national champion for Division 1. Since this time last year, every coach, every player, every team, every fan, every president, and every athletic director at the schools that play men's basketball have been focusing on this day. They have hoped to be good enough - or in some cases lucky enough - to get invited to take one of the 64 spots for the tournament starting today.

This isn't a perfect system - it's single elimination and some teams with very good records didn't get invited (that's why I said "lucky enough").

Still, all 64 have hope. By tomorrow morning, 16 of those teams will be focusing again on next year. Another 16 games tomorrow.

That's one of the great things about competition and sports - hope. Until the contest is played, there's always a chance that you can prevail.

Good luck to all the teams and the fans.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.