Thinking For A Change

Skill #2: Unleash the Potential of Focused Thinking

• “He did each thing as if he did nothing else.” – Spoken of Novelist Charles Dickens (77)
• Focused thinking can do several things for you: (1) Harness energy toward a desired goal, (2) give ideas time to develop, (3) brings clarity to the target, and (4) take you to the next level. (80-82)
• Focus can bring energy and power to almost anything, whether physical or mental. (80)
• “To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement.” – Bertrand Russell (80-81)
• A good idea can become a great idea when it is given focus time. (81)
• “knowledge is power only if a man knows what facts are not to bother about.” – Robert Lynd (81)
• One of the most important things about golf is the presence of clear goals. (82)
• “The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.” – Harry A. Overstreet (82)
• Be selective, not exhaustive, in your focused thinking. For me, that means dedicating in-depth thinking time for four areas: leadership, creativity, communication and intentional networking. (83)
• Identify Your Priorities (84)
• “a conclusion is a place where you get tired of thinking.” – Edward DeBono (84)
• Discover Your Gifts (84)
• if you’re going to focus your thinking in your areas of strength, you need to know what they are.” (85)
• Develop Your Dream ((85)
• “You will become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration.” – James Allen (85)
• “The real path to greatness, it turns out, requires simplicity and diligence. It requires clarity, not instant illumination. It demands each of us focus on what is vital — and to eliminate all of the extraneous distractions.” – Jim Collins (86)
• Wherever you are… be there! (87)
• The mind will not focus until it has clear objectives. But the purpose of goals is to focus your attention and give you direction, not to identify a final destination. (89)
• “If you can’t write your idea on the back of my business card, you don’t have a clear idea.” – David Belasco (89)