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Increasing Success (in your job search) through Focus and Concentration Joan Gustafson When you are searching for a new job, concentration and a focused effort will contribute significantly to your success. You might think this goes without saying, but you would be surprised at how many of us let other things get in the way of focusing on the things we really want. Part of the reason for our lack of focus is that we are living in a hurry-up, get-things-done, mark-it-off-the-to-do-list, multi-tasking world. However, even though you have marked off of the to-do list that you will send a resume, your cover letter might not have focused on the information the hiring manager really wants to know about you – the information that will get you an interview. In today’s complicated world, multiple distractions vie for our attention at any given time. The way in which we deal with these distractions determines how well we are able to focus on our goals and priorities. If you will take the time during the next 24 hours to observe how you handle distractions, you might have some surprises. During this time period, write each distraction as it occurs. After recording a distraction on paper, write a comment on how you handled this distraction. At the end of the 24 hours, review your notes, observe any patterns that may exist, congratulate yourself for the times that you handled the distraction well, and determine where you can make some improvements. How successful people handle distractions:   Set aside quiet time during the day to focus on your job search and action steps needed to be successful in your job search. Do not allow any interruptions during this time. Treat the time as if you are in an important meeting. Decrease the stress in your body and your mind by practicing relaxation exercises before you start focusing on your priority or action step. Keep a piece of paper and a pen at hand while you are concentrating on a project or task, such as writing a custom cover letter for a position that you really want. When an unrelated thought enters your mind, write it down. These thoughts can be reviewed at a later time. Alexander Hamilton once said, “Men give me credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night, it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then … people are pleased to call [the effort that I made] the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.” To this statement, I add that it is also the fruit of focus and concentration. The key is to focus. Joan Gustafson is the author/co-author of seven books on success and leadership. An award-winning keynote speaker and lecturer, she has spoken to almost 4,000 audiences on these topics, as well as on other business-related subjects. As a leadership coach, Joan has worked with Fortune 500 company executives, medium-size company managers, and entrepreneurs. She teaches graduate-level courses on leadership, international management, and strategic planning at two universities. For more information, contact Joan at 651-714-0080, joan@leaderdynamics.com, or through her website www.leaderdynamics.com. . Back to the library Reproduction of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed consent of Human Resource Staffing. Don Schmitz is a popular speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO of Human Resource Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in Education, Administration and Human Development. Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com 952 854 6040