Isn’t it funny how some people always seem to get what they want from life? No matter what happens they end up falling on their feet, seeing the good in everything and are always heading in the right direction. Yet there are also those who keep hitting a brick wall and get knockback after knockback, for these people life seems a struggle.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have it the easy way where everything falls into place? If I told you that you could would you believe me? No? Well that my dear readers is the key to it all!
This is the point where the title of this post starts to make sense, you will find that those who always seem to get it there way are focused on their outcome, they clearly see where they are going and they are focused on getting there. On the opposite end of the scale you will find that those who keep meeting the knockbacks are probably focused on the dangers, pitfalls and issues rather than on where they are going.
These two perspectives have names; the first is Outcome Focused and the second Problem Focused.
While coaching clients I will get their outcome or goal very specific extremely early on, this increases the chances of success because the goal becomes real, achievable and clear (it’s the difference between using a slightly old faded paper map compared to a modern sat nav your much more likely to get to where you want to go a lot faster and using a more efficient route).
However it is pointless having a clear goal if you’re focused on the wrong thing. It is a key coaching principle that you work with an Outcome Focused goal, this is because you generally get what you are focusing on. For example focusing on everything that could go wrong in your presentation next week will probably cause some of those things to go wrong. If however you shift your focus to giving an amazing presentation that blows everyone out of the water you will move closer to that goal.
Think of it like driving, you want to be looking ahead towards where you are going. You wouldn’t dream of driving and keeping your sight in your rear view mirror to check that no one is going to hit you from behind. Treat your life like a car journey, decide where you want to go and focus on getting there. This way if there are hold ups you don’t get stuck in them you might just change your route slightly and go a different way.
Have a think about how you see your goals. Do you see them at all? Is that voice in your head talking about all the bad things that can happen? What are you focused on, getting to your goal or the bumps in the road? Don’t walk around blind instead run towards what you want with determination and clear vision. Keep your goal in your sights and really amazing things can happen.