| Connecting the Dots...
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
-Walt Disney
If you've been following me these last few years, you know my business has changed a lot over the time. Sometimes I feel I'm in a never ending circle of picking a focus, getting clear on my direction, heading down that chosen path and then losing my focus...repeat. I've tried all kinds of ways to fine tune what I want, but I still feel like I'm spinning my wheels sometimes.
A friend introduced me to the term "Scanner" by Barbara Sher. "Scanners don't love to do one thing or the other; they love them all...To Scanners the world is like a big candy store full of fascinating opportunities, and all they want is to reach out and stuff their pockets." While I don't flit from one thing to the next, I do get hit with inspirations often to improve or create on the things that I see a need for around me.
For example, I love to network. There are groups for all kinds of industries, except Promotional Products. Sure there are regional and national organizations, but nothing local. Since it was important to ME to belong to a group like this and finding a gap, I created one--San Diego Promotional Group.
Then one of my blogger friends posted about an idea that kept pushing into her head. At the time, she was working diligently on a time sensitive project, but the idea was so tenacious it drew all her focus away. She said she had to stop, take the time to create the idea, and only then free the space in her mind to finish her project.
This is what happens to me ALL the time. As I thought about this, more often than just being sidetracked by shiny objects, I'm hijacked by tenacious invaders. A tenacious invader is a thought, project, dream, or goal that left unfulfilled takes over your consciousness and no matter what you do to avoid it; crawls into your lap, grabs you by the ears, and screams in your face "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" It doesn't let go until you've done just that.
I love my clients. I love the work I do for them. However, lately tenacious invaders have been pulling my focus. Some are quick and easy to implement, like creating my San Diego Promotional Group mixer. Others overwhelm me with their intensity. Most recently, what started as one complete story idea has bloomed into three, each new story acting as its own tenacious invader--I haven't actually finished any of them, rather I have to stop working on one to focus on the other so I can get back to the original. Lost? Try living in my imagination!
With all that I do for my business, my family and my writing, it is hard staying on a single course in general. Add in demanding ideas and distractions, following a set path becomes even harder.
As I head into the new year, I know I'll have to figure out ways to give myself the space to encourage the creative thoughts that push their way in without losing focus on other important areas in my life. I guess that will Project #1 on my list for my Virtual Retreat!
What do you do when faced with a tenacious intruder?
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Rachael's Product of the Month
 SendOutCards Holiday Checklist
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