What are you looking for?

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What are you looking for? It’s a question of where is your focus. Do you focus on what matters most? Now. And do you have the presence of mind to look ahead? At least far enough to avoid being blind-sided?

Last week I was trying to finalize a last-minute contract where the tenant wanted to move in that day. It was late Friday afternoon and there wasn’t time to get the space and required documents ready. But I pushed to have the contract expedited to be ready as soon as possible.

I received the contract at about 4 pm that day. Without thinking, I sent the contract to the tenant for signature. Because I was focused on the task of getting the contract to the tenant as quickly as possible, I did not consider where that action would lead. I failed to look ahead.

My assistant had to leave early, and she is the only one who can take payments (limited access for security), so the tenant would not be able to pay that day, which is the next step once the contract is signed. The maintenance person had left for the day, so he couldn’t get the space ready.

Because I was focused on the task of getting the contract out quickly, I failed to focus on the purpose. To create a great customer experience. If I had looked ahead, I would have considered the purpose of the task I was working on and told the tenant that it was not possible to move in that day.

Luckily, the tenant was understanding, which I greatly appreciated being I didn’t create the best customer experience possible due to my short-sightedness.

Tony Robbins says, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” Our focus must be large enough to see where we are going, not just where we are. The greater your focus and attention, the greater energy you will have. If your focus dissipates or becomes too narrow to see why you are doing what you are, energy and productivity diminish.

We excel through a deliberate focus on a clear purpose. Jesus Christ said, “seek and ye shall find.” What do you seek? To cross off tasks, or realize your purpose?

Originally published at https://btr-daily.com on October 19, 2020.