The Power of Focus

The Power of Focus Plot Summary

Introduction

In a world full of constant distractions and competing priorities, the ability to focus has become our most valuable resource. Think about your typical day - how many times do you find yourself pulled in different directions, overwhelmed by a growing to-do list, or ending your day wondering where all your time went? You're not alone. Most people struggle to maintain consistent focus on what truly matters in their lives. What separates those who achieve extraordinary results from those who merely get by is not talent or luck, but rather their ability to concentrate their energy on the activities that produce the greatest results. The principles in these pages will show you how to develop laser-like focus, eliminate distractions, and create the habits that lead to sustainable success in every area of your life. Whether you seek greater financial prosperity, improved relationships, better health, or more meaningful contribution, the power to transform your life begins with mastering your focus.

Chapter 1: Build Successful Habits That Determine Your Future

Our habits shape our destiny far more than we realize. Every day, we make choices that either move us toward the life we want or keep us anchored to the life we have. These decisions, repeated consistently over time, become the habits that ultimately determine our future success or failure. Consider Maria Sosa's inspiring story. Living in rural Colombia with her family, Maria faced extraordinary challenges. Her young daughter Luz suffered from Reye's syndrome, which left her wheelchair-bound. Shortly after giving birth to another child who lived only three weeks, her husband Hugo suffered a major stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to work. As if these hardships weren't enough, a local terrorist group operated nearby, demanding money and even attempting to kidnap her oldest son Elver to join their ranks. Maria reached her defining moment when she realized she needed to act immediately to save her family. With remarkable courage, she gathered her children and disabled husband and fled under cover of darkness, walking through the mountains to reach safety. After crossing into Venezuela and applying for refugee status at various embassies, Maria and her family were eventually accepted by Canada. Today, despite ongoing challenges, her children are thriving in school, and her daughter Luz is even walking, thanks to skilled medical care. Maria's story illustrates how life-changing moments require immediate action. When we step into our fear with courage and determination, unseen forces often support our efforts and remove obstacles. As Maria demonstrated, our capacity to overcome difficulties is far greater than we typically imagine. Even in the most desperate circumstances, we possess the power to make choices that can transform our lives. The foundation of lasting success lies in developing consistent positive habits. Think of habits as cables we weave thread by thread each day until they become unbreakable. The process begins by clearly identifying the unproductive habits holding you back. These might include procrastination, poor time management, negative self-talk, or avoiding difficult conversations. Once identified, you can systematically replace these with success-promoting habits using a three-step formula: first, clearly define the negative habit and its consequences; second, describe your new positive habit and its benefits; third, create a specific action plan to implement the change. Remember that changing deep-seated habits takes time and persistence. Research shows that new habits typically require at least 21 days to begin forming, and much longer to become fully automatic. The key is consistency - making small improvements daily rather than attempting massive changes that quickly fizzle out. By focusing on creating just four new positive habits per year, within five years you could transform twenty areas of your life. The rewards of this approach are immense. When you consistently make better choices, you create better habits. Better habits produce better character, which makes you more valuable. This attracts bigger opportunities, allowing you to make greater contributions and achieve more significant results. This virtuous cycle is the essence of successful living and begins with a simple decision to focus on what matters most.

Chapter 2: Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses

The most successful people in any field share a common trait: they spend most of their time doing what they do best. Rather than trying to be good at everything, they focus on their natural talents and delegate or minimize activities that don't leverage their unique strengths. Chris Keating exemplifies this principle perfectly. As a young entrepreneur, Chris recognized his passion and talent for photography early on. At age ten, he showed his enterprising spirit by creating a schoolyard game called "Cherry Bombs," selling frozen cherries to classmates for throwing at each other. Though this venture was shut down by his mother, his entrepreneurial instinct remained. After briefly working as a laboratory technician photographing rocks, he discovered his true calling when a friend introduced him to professional photography. With just $500 in credit, he purchased camera equipment and printed business cards to launch his career. Eventually, Chris found his unique niche in creating emotional family portraits. Rather than following the standard approach of asking clients about background preferences, Chris positions himself as a commissioned artist who creates powerful, memorable experiences. His clients now pay between $2,000 and $15,000 per family, and he's expanded his influence through nationwide tours and workshops, becoming recognized as an industry leader in professional photography. The secret to Chris's success lies in aligning his natural talents with his business focus. He discovered what he loved and excelled at, then structured his entire enterprise around these strengths. This approach, which we call Priority Focus, requires identifying your areas of brilliance - those activities you perform effortlessly that others find difficult, and that produce the greatest results and income for your business. To apply this principle in your own life, start by conducting a Priority Focus Workshop. List all the activities that consume your time during a typical week, then identify the three tasks you're truly brilliant at doing. Next, calculate what percentage of your time is currently spent on these high-value activities. Most people are shocked to discover they spend only 15-25% of their time on their most productive work. The goal is to increase this to 80-90% by systematically eliminating, delegating, or minimizing everything else. Understanding whether you're naturally a "starter" or a "finisher" is also crucial. Starters excel at creating new projects and ideas but often struggle with completing details. Finishers, conversely, thrive on bringing projects to completion but may not be as good at initiating them. Recognizing your natural tendency allows you to partner with complementary people or develop systems to compensate for your weaknesses. When you feel overwhelmed with work that doesn't leverage your strengths, consider hiring a personal assistant. The right assistant can free you from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus exclusively on your brilliant activities. Remember, if you're worth $100 per hour but spend time on $15-per-hour tasks, you're essentially losing $85 every hour. The same principle applies at home - delegating household chores that drain your energy can give you more time for rejuvenation and the activities you truly enjoy. The 4-D Solution provides a simple framework for prioritizing: Dump It (say no to non-essential tasks), Delegate It (hand over tasks others could do), Defer It (schedule less urgent matters for later), or Do It (tackle important projects immediately). This system helps you stay focused on what truly matters while avoiding the tyranny of the urgent.

Chapter 3: Overcome Setbacks with Resilience and Adaptation

Life inevitably brings challenges that test our resolve and determination. The difference between those who thrive despite adversity and those who succumb to it lies in their approach to setbacks. Developing resilience - the ability to bounce back from difficulties - is essential for long-term success in any endeavor. W. Mitchell's extraordinary journey exemplifies this principle powerfully. At age 28, Mitchell was enjoying life as a grip man on San Francisco's famous cable cars when tragedy struck. After completing his first solo flight as a pilot student, he was riding his new motorcycle when a laundry truck crashed into him, causing his gas tank to explode. The accident left his face severely burned and his hands reduced to stumps. After months of painful rehabilitation, Mitchell moved to Colorado and rebuilt his life, even getting his pilot's license restored. Then, four and a half years after the first accident, while taking friends for a plane ride, the aircraft stalled and crashed back onto the runway. This time, Mitchell was paralyzed and told he would never walk again. Rather than surrendering to despair, Mitchell went on to become mayor of Crested Butte, win a famous victory against a mining company threatening the town, and eventually travel the world as an inspirational speaker. His philosophy became, "It's not what happens to you, it's what you do about it that counts." Mitchell focused not on the 1,000 things he could no longer do but on the 9,000 things he could still accomplish. Developing this kind of champion mindset requires recognizing that you're in a slump, reminding yourself of past accomplishments, returning to basics, and maintaining the belief that you can work through challenges. Your attitude significantly impacts how quickly you recover from setbacks. Top performers in any field typically bounce back from disappointments within 24 hours, while average performers may take weeks to regain their momentum. Economic downturns provide another testing ground for resilience. Those who weather recessions successfully build financial reserves, learn from past mistakes, stay alert to warning signs, avoid negative news that breeds fear, trust their intuition, and maintain focus on their core competencies rather than chasing "bright shiny objects." These strategies create a buffer against external circumstances you cannot control. When facing significant challenges, a practical ten-step problem-solving process can guide you through difficulty. This begins with clearly defining your challenge, deciding to confront it, identifying your desired outcome, gathering necessary information, determining what you can do yourself, identifying who else can help, creating specific action steps, establishing a timeline, taking action, and finally celebrating your victory. This systematic approach transforms overwhelming problems into manageable projects with clear solutions. Sometimes the most powerful response to adversity comes from surrendering to a higher power. After receiving devastating news that her brother had been brutally murdered, Annette Stanwick experienced a transformative moment during the trial when she looked the killer in the eye and said, "I forgive you for what you have done." This act of forgiveness freed her from emotional pain and opened new opportunities to help others, including counseling prisoners serving life sentences. Her experience demonstrates how our response to tragedy can become a catalyst for new energy and purpose. The fundamental truth about overcoming setbacks is understanding that obstacles are not your whole life - they're individual events from which you can learn valuable lessons. Each challenge strengthens your character and prepares you for greater achievements. Remember that while you cannot control all circumstances, you always control your attitude and response. Developing this resilience muscle through daily practice will ensure you bounce back stronger from whatever difficulties you encounter.

Chapter 4: Ask For What You Want and Receive

One of life's fundamental truths is that asking is the beginning of receiving. Yet many adults have forgotten this simple principle that children intuitively understand. The habit of consistently asking for what you want can dramatically accelerate your progress in every area of life. Lisa Petrilli's remarkable story demonstrates the power of asking even in the most challenging circumstances. After both her kidneys failed, Lisa needed a transplant to survive. She had been on home dialysis for a year, spending nine hours each night connected to a machine. When her family members were ruled out as donors due to blood type or genetic reasons, and ten friends who volunteered were also disqualified, Lisa faced a desperate situation. With the waiting period for a kidney in Chicago at six years, she knew she had to take action. Though terribly uncomfortable with the idea, Lisa wrote a letter in her church bulletin asking if anyone would consider donating a kidney to her. A woman named Rose, who had almost thrown away the bulletin unread, saw Lisa's plea and called to offer her kidney. On March 27, 2007, Rose donated her kidney to Lisa, forming an unbreakable bond between them. Lisa, now CEO of C-Level Strategies Inc., says, "Once you have asked a stranger for a kidney and received a 'yes' in return, you are never afraid to ask for anything ever again." Most people hesitate to ask because of three primary barriers: limiting belief systems that suggest asking is inappropriate, lack of confidence, or fear of rejection. Overcoming these barriers requires recognizing that the potential rewards far outweigh the discomfort of asking. Remember, when someone says "no," you're not worse off than before - unless you take it personally, which is unnecessary and counterproductive. In business, there are seven powerful ways to boost your results simply by asking. First, ask for information using open-ended questions that begin with who, why, what, where, when, and how. This discovery process allows you to understand others' challenges and needs before offering solutions. Second, always ask for the business with a direct closing question rather than waiting for prospects to ask you. Third, request written endorsements from satisfied customers immediately after providing excellent service. Fourth, consistently ask for quality referrals from your core clients and others who appreciate your work. Fifth, ask for more business from existing clients by offering additional products or services they may need. Sixth, don't hesitate to renegotiate terms when circumstances change. Finally, regularly ask for feedback about how you can improve your offerings. The effectiveness of your asking depends on how you approach it. Be clear and specific about what you want. Ask with confidence rather than hesitation or uncertainty. Ask consistently rather than giving up after one attempt. Be creative in your approach to stand out from the crowd. And above all, ask sincerely - when you genuinely need help and have already put in significant effort yourself, people are more likely to respond positively. Remember that asking isn't just about getting what you want - it's about creating connections, solving problems, and helping others while helping yourself. When you approach asking with this mindset, you'll find that people are often surprisingly willing to assist you in achieving your goals. As the saying goes, "You can always judge the size of a person by the size of their dreams and by what they're willing to do to make them come true." Start asking, and watch as new opportunities unfold before you.

Chapter 5: Live Purposefully to Create Lasting Success

Living with purpose transforms ordinary existence into an extraordinary journey. When your daily actions align with a deeper sense of meaning, you experience greater fulfillment, make better decisions, and create more significant impact. Purpose provides the context that makes all your efforts worthwhile. Consider Terry Fox, whose remarkable story embodies purposeful living. At just eighteen years old, Terry was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a fast-spreading cancer that resulted in the amputation of his leg. Rather than surrendering to despair, Terry discovered a powerful purpose that transcended his personal suffering. While in his hospital bed, he committed to running across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the "Marathon of Hope," with an initial goal of raising one million dollars. Despite having only one healthy leg and using a prosthesis that caused pain with every step, Terry ran the equivalent of a marathon (26 miles) almost daily for 143 days, covering 3,339 miles in total. Though cancer eventually spread to his lungs, preventing him from completing his run, Terry's legacy lived on. What began as a goal to raise one million dollars has now generated over 400 million dollars for cancer research through annual Terry Fox Runs held in more than fifty countries worldwide. Terry's story illustrates three key principles of purposeful living. First, he aligned his purpose with his natural ability as an athlete. Second, he maintained unwavering determination, continuing his run despite snow, rain, and early lack of media coverage. Third, he maintained a humble attitude throughout, describing himself as "just an average person" and acknowledging the contributions of others to his cause. These principles can guide anyone seeking to discover and live their own purpose. Finding your purpose begins with recognizing your special skills and talents. What do you do effortlessly that others find difficult? What activities energize rather than drain you? Purpose also involves caring deeply about something beyond yourself. For Terry, seeing young cancer patients in the hospital provided powerful motivation to persevere through hardship. When you're living purposefully, you feel you're making a meaningful difference, whether on a global scale or within your local community. Anna Jarmics provides another inspiring example of purposeful living. At age ten in war-torn Hungary, Anna lost both hands when a grenade she picked up to protect her siblings exploded. Despite this devastating injury, she learned to write without hands, raised four children as a single mother after her husband abandoned the family, learned to drive a car, won trophies in target shooting, and created award-winning artwork. Now in her seventies, Anna spends her time inspiring new immigrants, helping them overcome their fears and believe in their potential. Her attitude is summed up in her words: "I never give up. I never did, and I never will!" To clarify your own purpose, consider creating a simple, powerful statement that captures your life's mission. Unlike corporate mission statements that often become meaningless plaques on the wall, your personal purpose statement should be memorable, actionable, and aligned with your deepest values. For example, "To use my God-given talents to positively impact as many people as I can during my lifetime, in a way that significantly improves their lives" or "To help kids of all ages to love free enterprise and business profitability, using inventiveness, creativity and innovation." Living purposefully doesn't require dramatic gestures like Terry Fox's cross-country run. It means making conscious choices each day that reflect your values and contribute to something larger than yourself. Whether you're raising a family, building a business, teaching students, or serving your community, approaching these activities with clear purpose transforms ordinary work into extraordinary contribution. When your daily actions align with your deepest values and aspirations, you create not just a successful life, but a significant one.

Chapter 6: Develop Financial Certainty Through Discipline

Creating financial security requires more than luck or occasional effort - it demands consistent focus, disciplined habits, and strategic thinking. Regardless of your current financial situation, you can build wealth by adopting proven principles that have worked for generations of successful individuals. Jack Canfield discovered this truth through his experience with the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book. When publishers repeatedly rejected the manuscript, Jack and his co-author Mark Victor Hansen didn't give up. Instead, they systematically interviewed successful authors like Barbara De Angelis, John Gray, Ken Blanchard, and Harvey Mackay, asking what specific strategies would ensure their book became a bestseller. Following this expert advice, they committed to doing at least one radio interview every day, seven days a week, for two years. They hired a publicist, sent books to reviewers, offered free reprint rights to newspapers, and conducted motivational seminars for booksellers. This disciplined, focused approach eventually resulted in the sale of 500 million books worldwide - even exceeding the Harry Potter series which has sold about 450 million copies. Financial success begins with your mindset and habits around money. Many people struggle financially because they've developed unproductive money habits - spending more than they earn, making impulsive purchases, and putting off payment as far down the road as possible. This creates a sense of constantly playing catch-up, with never-ending monthly payments that often require working longer hours or taking additional jobs just to make ends meet. The eventual outcome of this pattern, if expenses consistently exceed income, is bankruptcy or severe financial distress. To break this cycle, start by examining your beliefs about money. Is it okay to have a lot of money? What money habits have shaped your life so far? Do you joyfully earn and accumulate money, or do you sabotage yourself when unexpected financial success occurs? Understanding your relationship with money is the first step toward improving it. Next, adopt the basic rules for creating wealth demonstrated by financially successful people. Legendary mutual fund manager Sir John Templeton emphasized principles like being a realist with a hopeful nature, counting your blessings, striving to be debt-free, investing in many different places, exercising patience, investigating before investing, and creating riches for others. Similarly, entertainment icon Art Linkletter advised doing work you enjoy, recognizing that difficulties and failures are part of the journey, going the extra mile, learning from mistakes, following the Golden Rule, and using other people's money wisely when it can grow faster than interest charges. Implementing these principles requires specific habits. Pay yourself first by saving or investing at least 10% of your income every month before spending on anything else. Live below your means rather than constantly increasing your lifestyle with every pay raise. Develop a detailed understanding of where your money goes through careful tracking. Aim to become debt-free as quickly as possible. Learn about money and investing by reading books, attending seminars, and finding experienced mentors who can guide your financial decisions. Remember that money flows to those who attract it by providing excellent service and creating significant value for others. As the saying goes, "God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest." You must take action to build your financial future. While talent and knowledge are important, the consistent application of financial disciplines ultimately determines your results. By focusing on creating value, controlling expenses, investing wisely, and maintaining ethical standards, you can develop the financial certainty that provides both security and opportunity throughout your life.

Summary

Throughout these pages, we've explored the transformative power of focused action across every dimension of life. From building success-determining habits to leveraging your natural strengths, from developing resilience in the face of setbacks to asking confidently for what you want, from living with clear purpose to creating financial certainty - these principles provide a comprehensive framework for meaningful achievement. The common thread running through each strategy is the deliberate concentration of your energy on what matters most, eliminating distractions and maintaining consistent persistence. As you move forward, remember this fundamental truth: "Nothing much in your life will change, until you do." The strategies shared here have worked for countless individuals from all walks of life, but they require your commitment to implementation. Choose one area to focus on first, perhaps the habit you most need to develop or the strength you most need to leverage. Take that first step today, then another tomorrow, building momentum through consistent action. As Jim Rohn wisely observed, "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build, end up building us." Begin now to focus your attention, energy and resources on what truly matters, and watch as your life transforms through the extraordinary power of deliberate, focused action.

About Author

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Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.

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