One Thing at a Time
Over the last couple of weeks there has been some amazing feedback to my blogs about the power of our intentions, and how that affects what we go after in life. I wanted to follow up a bit on intention and talk about how we go about implementing our intentions.
I’m sure at least some of you have heard this before, but imagine you’re either looking to buy or sell a home, as a consumer or as an agent. What are the three most important words in real estate? Location, location, location! It takes skill and experience to negotiate, and knowledge to get a good deal done, but in the end the most important aspect of real estate is simple. Location determines a bunch, yes or yes?
Now take this approach toward success. What would be the three most important words when it comes to getting what you want? What’s the simplest thing we need to know?
Focus, focus, focus!
Intention is powerful—it’s the fuel that gets us going and moving, but without direction, we could end up going the wrong way! So in addition to intention we need concentration. We need to focus our energy in a single, unified direction. That’s what allows us to use our full power versus scattering it.
Another one of those no-brainers, right? But it’s another one of those things that’s easy to know yet easy to forget, and harder to make into a solid principle of action. I know because I was there.
Back in the day I had a wholesale jewelry business that was doing okay—not great—but not too bad for that stage in my life. Then I got offered to sell hats wholesale. Then T-shirts. Then something else. I figured I already had a client base from the first business, so why not? “Sell more, make more!” Guess how that turned out?
My income went all the way from about $700 or $800 a week to losing about $500 a week. I couldn’t understand why. I didn’t get it. So you know what I did? I went and got a job!
See where loss of concentration can take us? It’s the classic case of jack of all trades, master of none. You get all these irons going in the fire, but it’s mostly because of fear that you’re not going to make it if you just focus on one of those. If you were to put 100% energy in to one thing, though, there’s a real good chance you would make it.
Successful people are good at aligning all of their energy toward a single direction. Think of it like a rocket at takeoff. It takes much more energy getting off the ground than to get to where it’s going. Same with us. Once you’re well into the journey and you’re doing very well, thank you, that’s when you diversify!
So at the beginning of any business, you need to trust yourself. You need every single ounce of energy focused on the same spot in the same direction going where you’re going.
If you know what I’m talking about, please share your story with the community. What are some of your revelations and discovers about the power of focus? How did you go from ‘Duh!’ to ‘Aha!”? We want to hear from you!







wow, needed that, RIGHT NOW!
Thanks Harv, very useful
even though this truth hurts I want to thank you for reminding us once more!
Thanks, Harv, this is just what I needed to support me to focus. Last year I made a painful landing after scattering my attention at too many “opportunities”. None of them really worked well. While my primary business used to grow, it now has started to slow down and actually get smaller.
I have just finished the painful task of looking at my finances… and how much my income has dropped… very painful lesson!
I have just decided to return and focus on my primary business, so thanks a lot for your email.
“Man who catches two rabbits catches neither…”
Until a few months back I was all over the place exactly like you are saying. I was very happy I was doing ok in many different fields but not great at anything. Thankfully that has now changed, mainly thanks to you Harv.
Thank you.
Thanks Harv. I got your message in the real time. I was thinking Now what can I do??? Now I am ok. You show me the path.
Magnifying glass reflecting the sunrays into one spot to produce heat so hot to start a fire or at least smoke – that comes to mind when speaking of focusing all energy and attention on one thing… Seems like we know that so well, but do not practice in life regularly. What's then the way of getting or learning the “one at a time concentrated focus blueprint”?
Harv, your post is right on the money. I attribute my success to the fact that I chose one area of focus and I stuck with it. When I first started doing Resonance Repatterning to help people align with their goals I was working a full-time job and learning the Repatterning process on the side. Then I got laid off and decided to focus solely on building my Repatterning practice. “Conventional wisdom” might have said go for the job because it's an immediate source of steady income. But I knew that would take me away from my true goal which was to facilitate personal and global healing and transformation. I put all of my time and energy into growing my practice and within a year I had a thriving practice that supported me financially. Now ten years later I can say that I made a wise choice.
I love how your posts are so timely. This month I'm facilitating a remote distance healing proxy group to bring people into alignment with Clarity and Focus. If clarity and focus are a challenge this session is for you. https://liztobin.com/catalog-20…
This is EXCELLENT! My husband has had this laser focus for many years and just this year does it seem as though it will pan out to success. Focus is definitely key!
Thank you for sharing Yvon. 🙂
Thank you Elizabeth. It makes it easier to 'leap' when someone else has done it. This subject of focus is certainly timely.
Write down what we intend for the moment, with the end in mind.
🙂
By reading the other comments this is very timely for most of us!
I just got back from UIBC5 in L.A. and with so many opportunities open to me now I realize I was very scattered. The “Perfectionist” in me was going nuts too!
Excellent timing Harv. Thank you for your kindness and compassion.
(Now to chose just 'one') 🙂
There are two questions which have been given me for any “opportunity”: 1) Doe
Harv! There is nothing 'no-brainer' about returning to basic, or keeping in mind the essentials. I was one of those Jack-of-all-trades, so curious about everything, I kept jumping from one thing to the next. I can follow almost anyone, on any topic during any conversation, but can I presume to be an expert at any of it? No! And while, it was all very interesting, where has it gotten me financial-wise. Almost broke. So, I have chosen to focus on ONE thing, be the best at it, train my brain to manage my thoughts, act in spite of fear because my “why” has changed and what I was doing in the past is not going to bring me the results I want tomorrow. Focus is what will get me to and THROUGH the finish line. Many thanks for your wisdom and insights!
I'm realizing that the 'scatter' effect is fear based. When making that leap, when starting out it's easy and even soothing to 'effort'. Lack of money fear causes you to think 'I have to do something!'
Indeed, if you were trying just one approach to a problem while at a traditional job, and explaining to others not to worry – this will work, they would probably think you were nuts. Or lazy. Or both.
Entrepreneurship doesn't seem to go hand-in-hand with patience very well. But patience we must learn. Lest we lose our focus.
About 8 years ago, I started a new venture wholesaling rubber power transmission belts in China. I was new in the business. With limited financial resources, I figured the best I can do is to focus all my resources into one brand and one product line; ie. power transmission belts. At first, the other 1000+ shops owner thought I was crazy to put all my eggs in one basket, and they were having bets on how long I would last. All of them usually have plenty of cars parts of different brands to sell. My shop is the only one in the whole market selling one brand power transmission belts. My business grew from 0 to 30mil in 5 years. Customers just trust us more, seeing us as the “expert” in power transmission belts business, as we have the most complete range of belts for all kinds of vehicles. And, they are willing to pay a premium for our products.
Hi Harv. Thank you for the reminder to keep “focused”. There are just so many great things to do out there and I want to do all of them …. NOW. I end up to with many many unfinished projects which have all cost me money and time. It has been said that if I could bottle and sell my “enthusiasm” I would be a very rich woman. Thanks again. Sheryl
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I see this a lot when approaching people about my business. So many of them are what I call wheeler dealers, in that they are all over the place. They seemed to think they can't survive unless they are. Funny thing if they found a vehicle that might be the ticket and focused on it, they might just find themselves successful. Diversification is good, but sometimes it is ridiculous.
This posting could not have come at a better time! There are so many things I want to do, all within one realm I'm happy to say BUT I've still been feeling like the metal ball in a pinball machine, bouncing off one thing, then another and back again. It's a good reminder to sit back, breathe then really tune into that laser point of passion and focus that beam. Thank you for this very timely message!
Harv,
It's like your a mind reader 🙂
A student for life…
-Jared Knowlton
This is so on the money Harv, I was doing the same thing, bouncing from one thing to another and trying to do some at the same time never succeeding at any. Now I have found a awesome MLM company that is exploding and I decided to focus intirely on just it and it is taking off like a rocket. I was trying everything for fear it just might work. Your like a one peace band. Crazy, Now I have complete focus, thank you,Larry
I owned a vending business, a dry cleaning business, and a concession stand business…..all at the exact same time as my FIRST business. It started off ok, then they were not doing great, and it kept getting worse. It wasn't until I sold 2 of the businesses and kept the vending business that I could see from all of my FOCUS & ENERGY was into that 1 business that it started to really take off. When I deviated from that focus & energy is when it also didn't do as well.
You are most welcome, Kimberly. Sometimes one has to make the commitment and then take a leap of faith. Then support will come from varied and sometimes surprising places.
I just bought the Focus & Concentration Paraliminal CD and blogged about it. Synchronicity I guess. From everyone who really knows about being productive, their advice usually has to do with focus.
I agree. Focus, persistence and vision/creativity are so crucial ESPECIALLY in the initial stages of a project. When I wrote my first book and when I opened my first business, I was hyperfocused on that project alone, and, when it was all said and done, 99.9% of my energy was exhausted to get it done.
Even a slight lack of drive or focus would have deep sixed either project!
I love your MMI seminars Harv, I go every year!
Harv I think I have to agree here – I always wanted to do something big since I was 21 but I've tried and 'left' so many things without going ALL OUT on one or more idea – I'm 28 – grateful for where I'm at and now with this knowledge 'about being focused', I'm going to truly take things to the next level – thanks for sharing and love your book and youtube videos – cheers! For other ppl reading who feel disheartned cuz of lack of 'success' just remember life is a very unique journey and we all move at our own pace – BUT – if you want things to move SUPER FAST than just start being grateful. I'm grateful for this article , blog and T.Harv's awesome real life techniques. yaaaaaaaaaaay!
The best parable I can think of after reading this is how as a kid we all saw how paper got burned using a magnifying glass. Hold the glass in one spot and let the power of the sun set it ablaze! Concentrated energy. Lisa – Trinidad, CA
Thanks for reminding me to focus, Harv!
It's weird that I used to blog about focus and now I feel that I'm scattered. Well, I'm only human, I make this kind of mistake…lol
What you focus on, grows!
It's funny that I should be reading this. I am coming upon that very thing. I am in insurance sales, and I'm doing ok. Am i doing great, that has yet to be determined. Where I tend to get in the most trouble is when I lose patience with myself and try to circumvent the process. I have clear cut goals, written down my net worth and know what I have to do. What to do when that feeling of anxiousness fills you?? My focus is the one thing that eludes me because I am very scatter brained. When I'm on, I'm on, but when I'm off, look out! I'm meeting with my priest today to some spirtual enlightenment and direction. I believe that one of my short comings is my belief. Not my faith, but my belief structure. What is it? I don't know. How can I strengthen this muscle?
I lost a lot of money because I was unfocus , many distraction, I started this 2011 focus in building my 2 business and in track to my goal financial freedom by networkmarketing, I get the advice from one of my mentors that manage my time in blocks of 30 minutes to make a task , and this is help me a lot. I gave coach to some of my clients and we are working this important issue of focus because one of the roots of failure is try to be multitask. Thank you T Harv this blogpost help me to see the importance of be FOCUS