Do you find yourself spreading thinner and thinner as you follow each new great idea.

(I know it happens to me, one great idea after another and all of a sudden I'm not paying attention to my own business of selling Promotional Products.)

You have probably sat down and with some thought, found that you've strayed from your actual main business.

It's time to get out your business plan.

It's time to get out your written down goal.

It's time to FOCUS on what it is you really planned to do.

Focusing is not as easy as it sounds. There are far more distractions in our life than there are focuses (if that's a word). You'll have to force yourself to FOCUS. You have to make yourself focus.

Take time out in your day on a scheduled basis to consider what it is you are actually doing.

Maybe you haven't even got these things written down. If not, make some notes on these 8 things to do to create focus.

1.- Identify your strengths

2.- Clarify your specific goals

3.- Watch your time and productivity

4.- Identify your mission

5.- Eliminate negative self talk

6.- Daily or immediate goals first, longer term goals next.

7.- Believe and practice

8.- Stay in the positive zone.

Now these few simple tips should keep you on the straight and narrow. You should practice these skills and everyone needs to practice. Even Tiger Woods practices everyday. The best golfer in the world practicing every day?

You should do the same. Practice your thinking, planning, sales pitches purchasing habits, elevator speeches and podium speeches. Practice everything you do. Don't think it will just happen because guess what? It does just happen but not always the way you wanted.

When you go to a networking event, practice talking to many people, collecting and trading cards, learning something about your contacts and following up afterwards.

You can also practice going to your customers office, the bank, the suppliers shop, etc.

You get the idea, just practice everything you do, don'e let it just happen to you otherwise you may not know what happened.

Keep in touch, follow up on quotations and presentations. Don't think those people are discussing you or your plan while you're not there. You be the driving force in helping your clients make the decisions they need to make. You help yourself by helping others.

But that's another story.

Do I do all these things in my Promotional Products business? I try my best, I think about it a lot but certainly I'm a long way from perfect. Sometimes you know all the right things to say and do but because of time constraints or just plain lazy, the rules are forgotten and things don't turn out the way you planned.

Good Luck

I hope these 8 tips will help you.