Solving the FOCUS problem

MetaData

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@Lowbrow's intro thread really got me thinking about focus and how a lot of us struggle with it, to varying degrees, at one time or another.

Let's come up with a solution.

Maybe some kind of app or tool, or a method, or a combination of existing methods...

Whatever it is, maybe this is something that some of us could collaborate on. When folks wanted faster websites, we made Lightning (Shoutout @Ryuzaki)... If a lot of people are struggling to focus, let's solve that next.

Any ideas to get the ball rolling? Maybe we'll be able to come up with something useful, maybe this thread will fade into obscurity... either way I think it's worth a shot.
 
I really like this idea and thank you for starting it. Just reading @builts thread on why people are not completing journals had me thinking. Personally I would benefit from this, and I know others would too.

Starting a journal and promising you will post once a week isn't the same as being socially accountable for your own progress.

The idea I had that has developed with your prodding:
- In compliment to the journal section we could create a section that a member could submit a goal of their own. A single section that houses goals for all. The community agrees if it is satisfactory. A deadline and requirements are set. If completed you get the rewards of social accountability and maybe some reward (forum badges type idea) for completing goals.

Throwing something at the wall here.
 
A more formal version of the monthly goals threads, maybe we could even hack together some code to do something beyond the normal functions of the forum... interesting idea!
 

Having the drive and mentality of a guy like Casey Neistat create the Focus, Attention and Accomplishment. This video demonstrates some of what is needed to push through. It ain't easy folks.

This level of commitment, excitement and success is learned. Like exercise or a food limitation procedure it must be learned, ingrained and worshipped. Sometimes it is easier than other times. A crystal focus on the end result creates the sack to plow through the boring shit.

Look at any successful person and they have laser beam focus- they weren't born that way- they created themselves in the shadows of Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Madonna even, and so many others.

Even when you get it, perhaps it lasts a year or ten, or twenty. It is still a pain in the ass to get up early, stay up late, get shit done. TV, Movies, Music, rest, all wasted time on non-producing bullshit- that is the enemy. Negative people, nay sayers, assholes- stay away. Run your own race and reach UP to others who know more, work harder, run faster than yourself, it will inspire and you will become who you NEED to be.

Get busy, Stay busy, Say no often, Keep going... Work Harder!
 
I've tried changing my hosts file on windows at C:wonder:Windows\System32\drivers\etc to redirect all time wasting forums to 0.0.0.0, yet I moved my hosts soon afterwards onto the desktop and time wasting sites are still available.
 
Well, I think that that focusing on a target is not a kind of problem that should be resolved thanks to apps or other things of this sort (if we talk IM.... especially IM!).

It's rather simple, you want what you want or you don't want it.... What else can you do besides pumping people up?

To me it sounds a way too much WaFo... Sorry guys.

Or... if you want to have a real good example of "focusing" people on a target watch this
BTW, this guy really got me thinking back then... I have even paid for the video. And I'm not saying I have made a bad decision, what I'm saying is that they were people who back then, who made some positive change in my life but, all that shit was just a ... shit... Be careful where you going BuSo... :wink:
 
Andrewkar said:
To me it sounds a way too much WaFo... Sorry guys.
Click to expand...

Can you explain this? Not sure what snake oil has to do with this thread... Don't worry, we won't be releasing any MMO video courses lol.

I can give you two examples of types of apps that help with focus right off the top of my head...
- Pomodoro timers
- Software that blocks distracting websites

Neither of those are going to do the work for you (obviously), but they both help to structure your day and create better habits. That's what I'm talking about, just so we're on the same page.
 
How about some variation on the distracting website blockers, say an app or program that has a highly customizable scheduler.

Almost an anti-scheduler in the sense that you can select pre-defined websites you aren't supposed to be on during certain times of the day.

You set this up once, and that's it...

If you go onto that site during those hours a 'time-device' will kick in and your screen will begin to fade over a certain amount of time. If you don't exit by the time the screen has faded entirely then it blocks access to the website for a number of days as punishment.

You set the time limit for fade, and also the punishment time. So it could also be progressive...

#AversionTherapy

It's amazing the ideas that come to mind while eating garlic bread... That's the secret to idea generation folks.
 
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@RomesFall A BuSo app that blocks you from visiting BuSo... that's even too meta for me :D

There are browser extensions and stuff like RescueTime that work similar, but I wonder if there's room for one specifically for folks who work online and what some of the nuances would be. For example, you could block facebook.com but still have access to business.facebook.com, maybe have some type of pomodoro built in... Just brainstorming.
 
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MetaData said:
A more formal version of the monthly goals threads, maybe we could even hack together some code to do something beyond the normal functions of the forum... interesting idea!
Click to expand...
I don't even know if we need an app or code.
More formal would be good, though.

Maybe we need to introduce the new goals with a recap of the old ones.
A bit of moderation help? Such as reminding people, or a link to the old thread.

::emp::
 
People are motivated by pain (something they want to avoid) or pleasure (something they want) - Tony Robins.

If you want laser focus, motivation, and dedication to a project, have a good reason. The Why is more important than the How.

Maybe something as simple as a thread where people post deep, personal experiences where they learned the hard way. Or some people need to get their asses into "the boat's burned!" situations.

For example, I ran away from home when I was 17 to join the Army. I hated my family that much. There's no way I'm gonna go back to (insert home town) ever again. Do or die mother fucker.

My goal this year is to reach $9,000 CF/month. That means I'll have enough money to live, finance new ventures, and have my own family without all the BS I went through at home.

Seriously, there are so many memories of me getting picked on at school for not having the right clothes because my family was *that* poor.

Never again.
 
I've tried many different methods of focusing. Pomodoro method, website blockers, Modafinil, Adderall, a highly rigid, optimized schedule, timers, alarms, shock-collars (kidding), etc...

And I've still failed so many times. So many. But I've also had some major productivity wins.

And the wins boil down to this, folks:

EMOTION.

That's it. If you aren't in the right space emotionally, you will never tackle a 10+ hour day of systematically knocking out measurable goals (or even getting to the point of where you create measurable goals). Nor will you have the balls to try again after you inevitably fail at something big.

Let's face: None of us have to grind. Nobody here has to make a shit-ton of money. Or live a location-independent lifestyle. Or ball out. We don't NEED this shit.

So when things get tough, we defer to comfort foods, online magazines, social media, drinking, family, etc. It makes sense. Why work hard when there are so many comfortable escapes around us? We could easily settle. We could probably live "comfortably" for the rest of our lives working a mediocre job and fucking around with side hobbies.

So the reality is MOST OF US DON'T HAVE TO HUSTLE. We might have a few narcissistic fantasies we'd like to fulfill that sort of align with the entrepreneurial path. We might like the IDEA of freedom, luxury, etc. Hell, we might even like the IDEA of hustling/grinding/focusing (its such a great persona to adopt, right? "THE HUSTLER").

...But unless you cultivate the right emotional state, grinding towards success is a futile exercise. You're just going through the motions, and don't derive any emotional satisfaction from working towards an end-goal that's not firmly integrated with the fabric of your being. You aren't in love with the process, because the process has no meaning to you. Your end-goals have no real meaning.

The impetus for the psycho-emotional wind in people's entrepreneurial sails varies. Some people are motivated by trauma (growing up shit-poor and humiliated, seeing parents struggle, etc..). Others are motivated by pure necessity or desperation (lost job while having dependents, massive debt, etc..). Many folks build their self-esteem around achievement and recognition, so they are emotionally jeopardized if they aren't making shit happen (they have an internal baseline for achievement that's much higher than most people).

It doesn't have to be this extreme, though. Like I said, its possible to cultivate your psycho-emotional hustle-juice in a healthy manner. How? I don't fucking know. Introspection, cost-benefit analysis, philosophy -- whatever does it for you. I'm still working on myself every day. But every day, I'm getting stronger, and finding more reasons to keep pushing. I'm gaining emotional momentum. I'm finding real fucking meaning in my financial goals (meaning I've always sensed intuitively, but was never able to really crystallize until recently).

When you do finally find the emotional reasons for putting in 10+ hours of focused work, you'll notice you won't need to experiment with a million different "focus hacks." You'll just fucking handle your shit with minimal aid.

As far as augmenting your hustle once you're emotionally prepaired, here is a suggestion I think might help:

Monetary incentives.

Create an "escrow" like system you can transfer a decent amount of extra money into. You won't be able to retrieve that money until you've provided evidence to someone that you've accomplished specific, measurable goals within a specific time-frame. If time runs out before you were able to accomplish your goals, the system sends the money to a friend, organization, whatever.

You could even have the ability to "dispute" the money transfer, on sufficient grounds (family emergency, health issue, etc). But it would be up to your handler to judge if your reasons are valid.

Obviously, you should only do this if you're serious about your goals. Otherwise, you'll just be going through the motions to get your money back (and not to test your endurance or set a new benchmark).
 
I had to completely uninstall all video games on my PC, I then went out and bought two 8 foot white boards and put them on the walls in my office and filled them up with everything that I need to do. It helps me complete tasks for some reason. Maybe slowly watching the lines go through each task is rewarding?

You can get an 8 foot white marker board from Home Depot or Lowes for only 18.00

Other things I like to do is make sure my computer is running as fast as possible. Slow load times just kills the mood. I will also usually put my headset on and play music while working.
 
Maybe new progress thread section here on BuSo but, with some special rules. For example, if you have decided to start a progress thread then you have to update at least 5 times a week or you will get banned for good (plus your account will be flagged LOSER forever). Not sure about that however, it maybe a good way to kill the forum :D
 
I'm liking the 30 day challenge thread that @Philip J. Fry has going on. I like that it focuses on the process and not the end result. It's also short term enough that it doesn't feel endless, but long term enough to help you do some damage and instill a new habit or two.
 
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