If you can do more than one thing at a time, you are one of the fortunate ones who multi tasks. These people can read, watch television, talk to their children and their spouse while having something cooking on the stove. You get the picture.

Most of us, have to set up the scene. A quiet place, with the table set up, just so, the correct angle of the dangle, our head in the right place, with the right music and the right incentive, even.

Watching a lady, this morning, who comes in every day, to this Starbucks; I realized, that it took a lot more than just setting things up; it took, attitude.

This lady, sets herself up, at Starbucks, at a certain table, where, she could see anyone coming in, or out, of the store. She is focused, on one thing, her sales, of Mary Kay. She talks to everyone, she prattled even to people who did not want to talk to her. She is incessant, in her pursuit of her trade. Everything she did this morning, was geared towards her sales. Every word out of her mouth ended with a sales pitch. She, was focused, on her trade in this noisy environment. As a customer slipped out, quietly, and disappeared, she ran out, opened the door and called after them, loudly, by name. She remembered everyone, by name. Talk about focus!

Focus, is in the mind! Focus, comes from inside. When I decide to focus, and do something, I shut out everything else, no matter where I am. The setting is never important anymore. As I get older, I find that my focus is more intense. I am capable of doing things without interruption since I choose to do it.

Self control, is the meat and potatoes, of focus. If I choose to focus, wherever I am, I accomplish most of my tasks. Nothing, deters my focus but myself. And, I do not allow for that to happen.

Staying in the moment, helps keep me, on the substance of the matter. A wandering mind would be more of a problem than the surroundings. The emphasis should be on the task at hand, allowing for less mind roaming.

Habits are hard to break. It takes, three days, to break a good habit, but, 15 days to develop a new one. This drifting of the mind, takes time and effort to command. Time to rein in the deviating mind, bringing it under focus.

Learning presence of mind, I achieved the capability to work in any environment. It matters little, where, I am. Capable of focusing, and doing the work that I need to do, my mind stays on the mission, without a problem. Managing to tune out most of the world around me, distancing myself, helps me remain on the task before me, accomplishing my goals without influence. Interruptions are inevitable, but so what? When I get distracted, for a few minutes, I get back quickly to my inner space and continue my work.

Being productive is not about being isolated, physically. To my understanding and experience, it is being isolated in my head. Keeping a clear mind, free of distractions.

I keep plugging on! I have a goal in mind. It keeps me focused.
-Sonia