When it comes to creating an online business lack of focus is probably the biggest thing holding us back. Focus is important on 2 levels. Firstly you have your long term focus which is what you want to ultimately achieve. Stop reading this for a moment and ask yourself what do you want? Financial freedom? To be able to leave your current job and work at home? A new house? A world cruise? That is your long term focus this what will drive you if you harness it. If you want it enough and focus on it you will get it.

I knew someone who wanted to move out of her cramped apartment into a nice house. She searched the Internet and the local real estate offices until she found her dream home. She then got photographs and plans of the house and placed them on the wall behind her PC. Those photographs and what they stood for were her focus, whenever she felt demotivated she would grab a coffee and stare at the photographs and repeat to herself “I will have that house” Soon she was motivated again. Just over a year later she finalized the purchase of a similar house.

In addition to long term focus you need to consider your short term focus. a lack of short term focus will have a negative impact on your Long term focus. How many times do you sit down to write an article or build a site only to answer emails of have instant message conversations? very soon you realize you’ve done nothing constructive and you have no time left.

Getting a simple system together will help you achieve your short term goals. Once they are achieve then it’s just a matter of time before you achieve those long term goals. Try a system that will allow you to work without being interrupted by emails and instant messages. I set aside a 2-3 hour period each morning where I concentrate on work and nothing else. Only when that time is up and I’ve completed my tasks will i then read and answer emails.

You should also make a point of eliminating as many distractions as possible. Ask your family to respect your work time. If you explain to them why you need to be left alone then they will support you 100%. Try to turn off your cellphone and put any pets outside. Become your own strict boss!

Writing this article took less than twenty minutes. I had no distractions and focused on it 100%. If I hadn’t been able to focus on it I know for sure that it would probably take me and hour or so.

Go and focus on what you want, make it happen. As one of my favorite mentors always says… “Waiting is the favorite past-time of failures.