{"id":4620,"date":"2020-06-11T11:22:50","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T18:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/?p=4620"},"modified":"2020-06-17T14:04:48","modified_gmt":"2020-06-17T21:04:48","slug":"success-principle-1-control-your-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/success-principle-1-control-your-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Success Principle #1 Control Your Focus!"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE POWER OF FOCUS. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong>http:\/\/wp.me\/p2EGlL-1cw<\/span><\/span>
\n“Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goa<\/em><\/strong><\/span>l”.\u00a0 Cavitt Robert.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\nIf you are not where you want to be… You Can Change It… <\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Everyone\u2014everyday can find a reason NOT\u00a0to do<\/strong> the things they OUGHT\u00a0to do<\/strong>\u00a0in order to accomplish the things they WANT\u00a0to do<\/strong>. \u00a0<\/em><\/span>Nothing is easier than making excuses. <\/span>
\nUnderstand. \u00a0No matter how bad it seems<\/strong><\/em>… no matter how bad it\u00a0actually<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0As long as you don’t lose faith in yourself… as long as you focus on what you want to accomplish rather than simply cursing\u00a0the obstacles in your path, you can overcome and accomplish virtually anything. \u00a0With FOCUS and PERSISTENCE\u00a0you can not only\u00a0SURVIVE… you can THRIVE!\u00a0\u00a0I did.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Following\u00a0is the God’s honest truth of the impossible circumstances, obstacles and failures\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I\u00a0overcame\u00a0to create ASN (The Solutions Network). \u00a0It contains absolutely, NO,<\/strong> embellishments. \u00a0I fourished, not due to the brilliance of an idea, but rather the commitment to a principle; a principle that anyone can use. \u00a0No matter your circumstances… you can overcome and you can thrive!\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

My situation presented ample obstacles and opportunities for excuses. \u00a0The issues I faced were enormous, numerous and usually my fault.<\/em> <\/strong><\/span>\u00a0They were bad enough that it would have been a simple matter to just say “what’s the use!<\/em><\/strong>” and resign myself and family to mediocrity. \u00a0But whether because of my commitment to a dream or a slight touch of insanity<\/span>, I refused to let external issues dictate my decisions, my actions or my future. \u00a0In short… I refused to give in or relinquish control of my life. \u00a0The only option I left myself was to move forward and succeed.<\/em><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

So what’s my story?<\/em><\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Well, in a nutshell, not that long ago… While having no job, a pregnant wife, and a home in foreclosure, I “decided<\/em>” to get a DUI, total\u00a0our only car, end up in the hospital, then go to jail… \u00a0We eventually,lost our home. \u00a0After getting back on my feet and buying another home (that some called a mansion), the financial markets took a horrible turn for the worse… I proceeded to lose that home, too… \u00a0not to mention the fact that I lost everything else<\/em> I had manage to acquire during those good times… my home, boat, camper, vehicles… It was so bad, I couldn’t even keep my health insurance… During the foreclosure process and within\u00a0the span of about 4 months of each other, my wife’s mother and then her father (who we were caring for), died in our home. \u00a0Then while we were in mourning, someone I would have trusted with my life, stole everything that was left! \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Shortly, thereafter, \u00a0I realized I needed a rest and figured the best way to get it was by having a multitude of servants waiting on me hand and foot, 24 hours a day.<\/span> \u00a0So I had a heart attack!<\/strong><\/span><\/em> \u00a0<\/span> So, now we just added a $300,000 medical bill with no insurance to our situation. \u00a0No income, no assets, no money, no credit, etc… It was a bit “difficult”, to say the least. \u00a0What made it worse, was the realization that much of what had happened was my fault… \u00a0If I had paid a bit more attention to who I trusted and had around me, many things could have been avoided. \u00a0but if pigs had wings, they could fly… \u00a0Coming back from all of this required a totally new way of thinking.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line?… here I was. \u00a0I had a lot of problems and had made a lot of mistakes. \u00a0But the one thing that I didn’t do, was make excuses!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PRINCIPLES THAT ALLOWED ME TO OVERCOME DISASTER–<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n I can’t express how important it is to take responsibility for your actions and consequences and to not make excuses for your situation. \u00a0But that’s not enough.<\/em><\/span> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Even when\u00a0we take responsibility and refuse to make excuses…<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0without directed focus<\/strong><\/em>, we still can’t effectively\u00a0deal with the our issues. \u00a0Even if we have the fortitude to continue to work towards our goals, we often have half our brain tied behind our back.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Rather than focusing on where we are going, we are partially fixated on the obstacles and side issues that we see on the horizon. \u00a0We can not properly follow\u00a0our path as long as we are focusing on the problems<\/span>, rather than the solutions.<\/span> \u00a0So we stumble… over and over.<\/em><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Focusing on the Solution<\/em> to an obstacle is fine… But simply focusing and worrying about a problem and it’s consequences creates a type of temporary paralysis that prevents\u00a0us from\u00a0really effectively moving forward to\u00a0solutions.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>\u00a0It is impossible to maximize your effectiveness when half your brain is focusing on your business plan and the other half is pondering the stopped up sink or the ticket you got last week!<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

We have to have\u00a0<\/em>to have all guns firing… in the same direction!<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0Without directed focus, that can’t happen.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0This principle of directed Focus is so important that\u00a0I am going to show exactly how and why it was absolutely essential to the creation of the Solutions Network<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Without the constant adherence to focus,\u00a0ASN<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0would not exist today!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NEVER TAKE YOUR EYE OF THE BALL<\/strong><\/span>
\nIn Short… when you focus on your\u00a0objective<\/em>,<\/strong>\u00a0obstacles become simple stepping stones leading you to success.\u00a0\u00a0When you focus on\u00a0obstacles<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0obstacles become brick walls that can blind you to what needs to be done and obscure the goals and objectives that would normally have served to motivate and inspire you.\u00a0\u00a0When you focus on the obstacle, your motivation and energy is drained and effectiveness destroyed!\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0 bears repeating\u2026 \u00a0“Obstacles are those things you see, when you take your eyes off the goal”.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

If you really want success at anything; \u00a0 If you really want to maximize your effectiveness…<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Learn to focus on the objective<\/em><\/span>, while tuning out<\/strong> the obstacles and side issues..<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 Learn to focus on your goals and the rewards of achievement…<\/span>\u00a0By focus on doing the things you know MUST\u00a0be done<\/em><\/strong>, when <\/span>they need to be done, <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0you will<\/em> <\/strong><\/span>get the outcome you desire.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> It’s not easy, but it’s a vitally important skill to develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Focus on Goals- Not Obstacles!<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nDOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD IGNORE PROBLEMS?<\/strong>
\nOf course not! \u00a0But we must learn to give problems only the weight, attention and concern they deserve… and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>only WHEN<\/span> they deserve it.<\/b><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have to go to court? Of course, you have to prepare for it… then put your effort and focus back into your work. \u00a0The day of court, go!\u00a0 But don\u2019t worry about it for the prior 2 weeks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Worrying accomplishes nothing other than to create an incessant cloud of anxiety that diminishes your performance on productive tasks. \u00a0It simply sucks your energy and focus away from productive, positive thoughts and activities.<\/b><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Worrying about finances? \u00a0Stop worrying about it<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u2026\u00a0<\/span>DO\u00a0<\/i><\/b>SOMETHING ABOUT IT.<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0PLAN!… ANALYZE!… and when it’s time ACT!… Leave the “worrying” to others. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Every moment that you spend worrying, is a moment you are not moving towards a solution. \u00a0\u00a0Don’t Worry Don’t get distracted… Do what you must, when you must…\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This applies to all aspects of our lives.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span>Not everything is business. \u00a0Things happens, kids get sick, drains get clogged, cars get crashed, you fight with your spouse. \u00a0Dealing with them takes up time and energy, both physical and emotional… but it’s vital to know <\/em>when<\/span>\u00a0to deal with them<\/span>… \u00a0and when to deal with business<\/span>. <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Don’t get them confused!<\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>At any particular moment, you must learn to focus on one or the other. \u00a0Just as a divided house will fall… a divided brain will falter. \u00a0Your brain can not properly serve two masters at the same time. \u00a0Do what you must to solve the problem… but whatever you do, don’t simply worry about the problem!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

REALIZE, IN VIRTUALLY ALL MATTERS, A SOLUTION DOES<\/em> EXIST.<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span>Whether business or personal\u00a0worrying NEVER<\/em>\u00a0accomplishes anything!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0It\u2019s the time spent finding the solution that matters.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 There is virtually\u00a0always<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>a solution \u00a0to every issue, \u00a0 And for those rare\u00a0occasions\u00a0that a true solution doesn’t exist? \u00a0There is always a best path.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0It\u2019s up to you to find it. \u00a0But, you will never find a solution by worrying.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0You will find it by thinking, analyzing, considering options… by actually working<\/em> to solve it. \u00a0When you have a problem… don\u2019t dwell on the fact this “sucks”… Dwell on finding the solution. <\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Don’t constantly remind yourself how horrible this is, how unfair it is, how hard it is, don’t ask your self “why me?”. \u00a0This does nothing but accelerate a downward spiral. \u00a0Focus on your goals, your desired outcome, develop a strategy to get you there, decide what you have to do… then do it!<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

REMEMBER, focus on the big picture; the goals and solutions, not the obstacles. \u00a0Then, when you\u00a0must\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>deal with obstacles that arise,\u00a0do so-\u00a0but only when, and not until necessary<\/strong>.<\/span> <\/span><\/em>Until it’s time to address them,\u00a0\u00a0pretend they don’t d<\/em>on’t exist<\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Deal with them when it’s time and not a moment before.<\/p>\n

Remember,\u00a0It is impossible to BE your best when… you are WORRYING about the worst!<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Allow them zero space in your mind. \u00a0Then, when it’s time to deal with them, do what you can at that moment<\/em>. \u00a0<\/span>Then do no more until it’s time to deal with it again. \u00a0Until that moment, forget it and go right back to focusing on the achievement of your overarching objective.\u00a0 Get back to the big picture. \u00a0Don’t allow excuses,\u00a0peripheral\u00a0issues, opinions of others or anything else stop you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE KEY TO DIRECTED FOCUS<\/strong><\/span>
\nFocus on the objective, not the obstacle<\/em>.\u00a0 Whatever the issue, deal with it…<\/em><\/span> but only when it’s time to do so\u00a0and not one second sooner<\/em>.\u00a0 Then, after you’ve dealt with it, \u00a0move on!<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0That’s the trick… Don’t worry about problems. \u00a0Prepare to deal with them, solve them, but don’t\u00a0worry\u00a0about them!<\/span> \u00a0When it’s time to solve them,\u00a0do so… then don’t dwell on them, don’t look back! \u00a0\u00a0Notice… worrying plays no part of the solution process!<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

There’s a time to\u00a0grieve<\/em>, a time to\u00a0plan<\/em>… and a time to\u00a0work<\/em>.<\/strong><\/span>
\n DON’T GET THEM CONFUSED… Make Sure You Know Which is Which<\/strong><\/span><\/em>
\n
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

HOW THIS PRINCIPLE CREATED THE ALL SOLUTIONS NETWORK<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>
\nWITHOUT MY PERSONAL ADHERENCE TO THESE PRINCIPLES…\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ASN WOULD NOT EXIST.<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0story \u00a0is absolutely true with no embellishments whatsoever. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After reading it, you will understand why “I don’t believe in excuses<\/span>“.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Success Principle “ACTION!<\/span>“…<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/span>
\n“Great ideas are useless without positive action<\/span>“.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span>
\nASN didn’t always exist.\u00a0 It was once just a great\u00a0idea that without\u00a0being combined with an enormous amount of work, perseverance and absolute\u00a0commitment and focus to overcome what seemed like\u00a0insurmountable adversity, would just be another idea that disappeared after drinking another beer. \u00a0The idea was great… the obstacles I overcame seemed IMPOSSIBLE! \u00a0Overcoming it all\u00a0<\/span>meant I had no choice but to\u00a0focus on the goal, not the obstacles.<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 If I had allowed myself the luxury of worry, The Solutions Network\u00a0would never have become a reality.<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Why Not Practice\u00a0Law?<\/strong><\/span>
\nIn 2000, the solutions network was little other than the germ of an idea<\/span><\/em>; an assortment of notes on scratch paper and a couple of html pages residing on my computer.\u00a0 I already had my law degree but hated the practice of law.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Since,I was lucky enough to have been one of the top students, I had the honor of clerking for the dean of the law school.\u00a0 It provided me the opportunity to see the complete practice of law, up close and personal.\u00a0 It wasn’t nearly as much like my favorite television shows as I had imagined or hoped. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I found that no matter how you tried to practice, no matter how much integrity you had, a major key to continued success in law was, not to solving\u00a0<\/strong>problems<\/em>, but rather creating\u00a0more of them by creating more issues that provided\u00a0additional\u00a0billable hours.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 Think about it, if you are working on an hourly, billable basis, as soon as you conclude your case; win or lose, that “job” is over; that source of income has stopped!\u00a0 On the other hand, if you are clever enough to interject a new issue into the legal mix, the other attorney has an obligation to respond; you then, have to respond to the response, they then respond to your response… This is what’s known as creating billable hours; a sort of legal tennis, where new issues are lobbed back and forth and with every lob, you are get paid again.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 The nature of the system is such that, often, doing a truly good job for your client, is often not so good for your pocketbook.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you try to stay out of this despicable money grabbing game, you can be forced to participate, because as soon as the opposing attorney, creates a new issue, you have no choice but to address it, or your client loses on the issue by default.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span> All the while you and the opposing attorney are racking up billable hours at the rate of, at least, $200 to $500 per hour.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Great money, but I like being able to look in the mirror and still like the person that looks back at me.<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u00a0 I have always been about solving problems, not creating or participating in their continuance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, I decided not to practice. I decided I was not going to participate in what I see as system that is often little more than legal theft.\u00a0 So, I did nothing other than an occasional\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span>Bankruptcy<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/em><\/span>here and there and handled a few legal issues for a select group of friends and acquaintances.<\/em> <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0I was also performing as a professional musician, playing local clubs a couple of weekends a month.\u00a0 Consequently, money was the thing I needed the most but had the least.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 I wanted and needed money, but I insisted that I earn it on my own terms.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

MY LIFE WAS FAR FROM BLISS!<\/strong><\/span>
\nOh yes, I also had a wife who was about 7 months pregnant, could not work, and I, like many, had no insurance (couldn’t afford it).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Oh, and to top it off… my home was in foreclosure.<\/span>\u00a0 (as God is my witness, this was my life<\/span>)<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

I didn’t have much,\u00a0<\/span>but I did have a goal… an idea.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/i>I was going to create the solutions network; (a marriage of my education and the internet), and reach out nationwide; even worldwide to provide the kinds of services and opportunities that everyone needed.\u00a0 I wanted to create a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>system that would allow anyone, no matter their circumstances or education to join with us and improve their lives by helping others improve theirs.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Many friends thought I was suffering from delusions of grandeur \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I didn’t feel I had any delusions.\u00a0 I simply believed in the idea and was absolutely committed<\/strong> to making it happen.<\/em><\/span> (My friends and family thought it was more than that I was<\/strong> <\/em>committed… they thought maybe, I should <\/em><\/strong><\/span>be<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0committed<\/em><\/strong>)\u00a0 In spite of the opinions of others and my dire financial situation<\/strong><\/em> I continued to focus\u00a0on my long term objective rather than my short term issues.<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 I was totally convinced that my idea would work and that everything would be alright.\u00a0 If I could actually create the system, I couldn’t even imagine how or why it\u00a0<\/em><\/span>would NOT work<\/b><\/em>…<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>But there was a caveat…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I would be alright ONLY as long as I continued to do and concentrate on the things that I KNEW<\/span>\u00a0needed to be done–\u00a0 rather than concentrating on the opinions of others or worrying about all the reasons that I should be doing something else.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Things were tough, my wife\u00a0wasn’t\u00a0happy with many of the choices I was making, and even though, on balance, my friends thought I was a reasonably intelligent guy, they just\u00a0couldn’t\u00a0understand<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>how could I not<\/em> <\/strong>be taking advantage of my legal education to rake in the big bucks and instead chose to live on the brink of losing everything; while continuing to pursue a “thought”, an intangible idea that was nothing but a dream that was nowhere in site.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>No one understood<\/b><\/i>.\u00a0 But it didn’t matter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I UNDERSTOOD, and that was enough!\u00a0<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u00a0I was committed to making this happen.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0I chose to concentrate on my objectives rather than focus on obstacles and the opinions of others.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

THEN IT\u00a0GOT WORSE<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As<\/span>\u00a0I mentioned, I was also a musician and during this time, music actually generated a large portion of my income.\u00a0 One Friday night as I left a performance at about 2:00 am, I was convinced to take \u201cone shot for the road\u201d<\/em>. \u00a0I had been drinking already, not\u00a0to excess but enough.\u00a0 But since I hadn’t eaten since about 10:00 am, there wasn’t anything to absorb my last \u201charmless\u201d little shot. \u00a0The club was a quaint little bar in the mountains and the road home wound round and round through the hills and cliffs. That \u201cone for the road\u201d was not one of my better life\u2019s choices.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

While driving home, all of a sudden that last shot\u00a0hit me like a ton of bricks. \u00a0As I rounded one of the many dangerous curves, all of sudden, I\u00a0was now in a drunken\u00a0stupor\u00a0 I saw 3 roads, totally lost control, spun out and ended up, upside down in a ditch, (if I had gone on the other side of the road, I\u2019d have gone off a cliff and probably be dead).\u00a0 The car was totaled, my shoulder had been slammed through the side window, cut up horribly, (the crash bag didn’t inflate), I was knocked unconscious, etc\u2026 \u00a0The end of a very bad night?…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then the police showed up.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 They took me to the hospital where I was bandaged up and then carted off to jail.\u00a0 It turned out that my blood alcohol level was .18 so now I was looking at some uncomfortable legal issues\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

My pregnant wife who was about 7 months pregnant showed up at the jail to pick me up. \u00a0She used my bother’s car because\u00a0now, the only car we owned was in a ditch… totaled.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So now my life had just gotten even worse and the obstacles more numerous.<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u00a0 I had no “job”\u00a0to speak of, No money, A big DUI, Fines on the way, Hospital bills, A license that I was about to lose because of the DUI<\/em>, an unhappy wife, a baby on the way, No car,\u00a0 a home in foreclosure, etc\u2026\u00a0\u00a0But I did have one important thing left.\u00a0 My Goal.\u00a0 My Dream… and I would not, could not, let it go.<\/span><\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

MY DREAM, MY OBJECTIVE WAS BIGGER THAN ANY OBSTACLE. \u00a0My friends thought I was nuts!<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span>
\nThe dream was bigger than any obstacle<\/span>.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0 I had a dream to create a company that would allow me to earn by creating a\u00a0worldwide opportunity that would allow anyone to<\/span> earn by helping others… all with no investment.\u00a0 <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Years ago I had heard a statement by\u00a0<\/span>Zig Ziglar<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u00a0that always stuck with me.\u00a0 \u201c<\/span>You can get anything in life you want\u2026 if you help enough others get what\u00a0they<\/i>\u00a0want<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u201d.\u00a0 This is the fundamental precept of the solutions network.\u00a0 It is the idea that permeates every aspect of it.\u00a0 That was my dream and I would not let it go, for anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did I deal with this “impossible situation?<\/strong><\/span>
\nMy circumstances were now such that anyone in their right mind would have changed directions.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Friends and family urged me to do so. \u00a0Remember, I had a law degree.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 I could have given up the dream and gone out the next day and gotten a great job with a successful law firm and solved all of my money problems by simply suing people.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span> But I just didn’t find that very exciting or fulfilling… that\u00a0wasn’t my dream.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Most sane people would have re examined their life, their situation and changed paths.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>What did I do?<\/b><\/i><\/span>
\nThe moment I got home\u00a0after returning from jail<\/em><\/span> at about 9:00 am, I sat down in front of the computer and went back to work creating ASN!<\/em><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

FOCUS ON THE OBJECTIVE<\/em><\/span>:<\/strong><\/span> After spending a night in jail and the hospital; after totaling my ONLY<\/em> <\/strong>car, knowing that I would lose my license, incur huge fines, etc\u2026 knowing that it had just become even more difficult to improve my financial circumstances\u2026 instead of giving up the dream and taking the path that \u201cmade more sense\u201d i.e. joining a law firm,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I rededicated myself to my goal. \u00a0I refocused on my objectives.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I could have curled up in a ball in the fetal position.\u00a0 I could have given up, I dare say many people might have done just that.\u00a0 But I had this one thought that wouldn’t leave me… \u00a0I just couldn’t shake it…<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>“Bruce… you know this is a great idea.\u00a0 There is no way this can’t work.<\/em>\u00a0 If you just do, what you know<\/em> needs to be done; if you make the right choices, you will get the right results”.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span> It became my mantra… “Do the right thing, get the right result”.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0 could so easily have given up and just joined a law firm, as everyone urged me to do. Instead, and this bears repeating…<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The moment<\/span> I got home from my hospital and jail visit (around 9 am),<\/b><\/i>\u00a0I literally walked into my home (that I was losing<\/em>) and sat down in front of the computer and continued transforming my notes and ideas into an actual website. \u00a0\u00a0I worked 18 hours a day for about 4 weeks straight, not letting\u00a0ANYTHING or ANYONE<\/b><\/i>\u00a0distract me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

My pregnant wife was furious<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (why didn\u2019t I get a job?), my friends perplexed (they “knew” I had better options), within one month I had the first incarnation of the solutions network.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Since it’s inception,\u00a0our network of members has helped thousands become\u00a0homeowners, become debt free, perfect their credit, <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

increase\u00a0their incomes, improve their lives\u2026 all without investment.<\/em><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThis all happened\u00a0because I focused on the goal… NOT THE OBSTACLES.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Following are\u00a0some of the many services that ASN offers. \u00a0We have hundreds more and our ASN members earn from each and everyone…\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Home Loans<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Bankruptcy<\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0<\/b>Mortgage Reduction<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Loans and Financial Services<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never looked back since.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s not to say there haven\u2019t been more issues, more obstacles, setbacks\u2026<\/b><\/i>\u00a0There have been… big ones! \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0I’ve had a massive heart attack… in one span of 4 months in 2007, my mother in law, then<\/em> father in law, passed away, in our home.<\/em> \u00a0I then had to help my wife and children get through the horrible emotional trauma this caused, not to mention the fact that I had cared deeply for both of them and had my own sorrow to deal with…\u00a0 then, if that wasn’t enough<\/em>, during this time of distraction, someone I would have trusted with my life, stole everything, that wasn’t nailed down…<\/span><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, things happen… If I had to bet, I\u2019d guess I’ll have to deal with more issues and more setbacks in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s so unfair! but guess what\u2014that\u2019s life.<\/b>\u00a0 Get Used to It!<\/strong><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

We all have setbacks.\u00a0 Some are big, some are small, some are HUGE!\u00a0 But we have no choice.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Either WE overcome problems… or\u00a0THEY\u00a0<\/i>overcome us!\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For me, when new problems occur, I will do what I\u2019ve always done.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Focus on the objective, not the obstacle.\u00a0 Whatever the issue, I’ll deal with it… when it’s time to do so and not one second sooner.<\/span>\u00a0 Then, after I’ve dealt with it,\u00a0 I’ll move on.<\/b><\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>That’s the trick… don’t worry about problems. \u00a0Prepare to deal with them, analyze them, solve them, but don’t worry<\/span> about them! \u00a0When it’s time to solve them,\u00a0Do it… then don’t dwell on them afterwards.<\/b><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

In Life, there’s a time to grieve<\/span>, a time to plan<\/span>… and a time to work<\/span>.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

DON’T GET THEM CONFUSED… Make Sure You Know Which is Which<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t care what you do, who you are or what you want to accomplish\u2026There is no business concept that is more important to your success.\u00a0\u00a0Focus on your objectives not your obstacles.<\/span>\u00a0 And once you’ve dealt with the obstacle, forget about it. \u00a0Don’t dwell on it or the person that caused it. \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span>It’s impossible to effectively move forwar<\/span><\/b>d if you are always looking in the rear view mirror.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WHATEVER YOUR DREAM YOU CAN DO IT<\/span><\/b><\/em><\/span>
\nWhen you have a dream, don\u2019t give up.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let anyone steal it or diminish it. If you\u2019ve analyzed it and know that it is sound, workable and worthwhile for yourself and for the public, focus on it and don\u2019t let anything stop you.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0YOU CAN DO IT!<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But remember\u2026 that doesn’t mean that there won\u2019t be obstacles. THERE WILL BE.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 It doesn’t mean there won\u2019t be set backs; even temporary failures.\u00a0 THERE WILL BE!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0 No matter what you do, things will not always go your way.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0It just means that you have to deal with them. <\/b><\/i>\u00a0But don\u2019t worry about them before necessary and don\u2019t dwell on them afterwards.\u00a0 What\u2019s done is done.\u00a0 What will be, will be.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0To a\u00a0huge degree you control your destiny, providing you keep your eyes on the prize.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Focus on the objective and deal with the obstacles\u00a0when you must…\u00a0<\/span>but not one second longer<\/b><\/i>… and\u00a0never take your eyes off the goal.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I truly believe that the Solutions Network is the ultimate opportunity; the most potential, no risk of any type, no investment required, ever.\u00a0\u00a0A unique opportunity that is wrapped up in the philosophy that “the more people you help get what they want, the more successful you become”. \u00a0<\/i>See ASN<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That was what I set out to do. \u00a0In spite of obstacles, setbacks, criticism from family and friends, I\u00a0persevered\u00a0and accomplished that objective. \u00a0It could never have happened without the ability to maintain focus in the face of adversity.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We’d love to have you join with us helping us to help others. \u00a0If you happen to choose to do so, we will help you in any way that we can.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>But \u00a0we understand that we each have our own dream, our own path. \u00a0It is not our goal to persuade you to change course. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, it is our goal to help convince you that whatever your dream is, whatever path you choose to pursue, \u00a0with persistence and proper focus you can achieve it. \u00a0<\/span>NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE!<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>THE HAPPY ENDING???<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Remember the house that I was losing?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 I wish I could say that I was so brilliant and quick that I fixed everything at light speed and saved my home and didn\u2019t have to move my family.\u00a0\u00a0That would be the fairy tale ending, but it would also be inaccurate.\u00a0\u00a0Some might say a lie \ud83d\ude42<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I COULDN’T<\/em> save my home.<\/b><\/span>\u00a0 No matter who you are or what you do, what you know, how bright you are… things do not always work out- THEY JUST DON’T!<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0But I was able to use the techniques that we teach for\u00a0<\/span>FREE<\/b><\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>at ASN, to find another home; a home that we moved into with nothing down.\u00a0 It was larger, nicer and a much better fit for our growing family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn’t accomplish my original objective<\/em>,<\/strong> but because I didn’t give up<\/strong><\/em>,<\/span> didn’t put my head in the sand… because I continued to move forward, I actually ended up with an even better outcome!<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The moral to that story?\u00a0 Even if you don\u2019t get exactly what you are after or accomplish\u00a0<\/span>exactly<\/b><\/i>\u00a0what you attempt, as long as you keep your head up and your eyes open, things still work out\u2026 <\/span>\u00a0Continue to do what needs to be done… eventually you will get a positive outcome…<\/strong><\/span><\/em>even if it’s not EXACTLY what you originally had in mind.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember, If you are reaching for the stars, you will never come up with a handful of mud!<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It all worked out for the best, but only because I\u00a0<\/span>looked for<\/b><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>pursued, expected<\/b><\/i>\u00a0and <\/span>focused on\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span>the best.\u00a0 <\/span>If I had, instead, buried my head in the sand and asked “why me, why is this happening to me”\u00a0I and my family could have ended up in the street<\/i><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, when problems occur… don’t get down, get moving!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As Napoleon Hill said in his classic book \u201c<\/span>Think and Grow Rich<\/b><\/i>\u201d, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit<\/span><\/b>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0If I hadn\u2019t been in the process of losing my existing home, I\u2019d have never purchased the home that ended up being so much better for my family.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Success is within\u00a0the reach of each of us.\u00a0 It always has been and always\u00a0will be.\u00a0 However, it always requires that we focus on
\nwhere we want to go. \u00a0Without that clear focus, finding it is impossible.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

Focus on\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>where you are going… Not where you’ve been.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We all know “if you\u00a0focus too much on your rear view mirror… You will\u00a0crash…”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The same\u00a0is true of our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE POWER OF FOCUS. \u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p2EGlL-1cw “Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goal”.\u00a0 Cavitt Robert.\u00a0\u00a0 If you are not where you want to be… You Can Change It… \u00a0 Everyone\u2014everyday can find a reason NOT\u00a0to do the things they OUGHT\u00a0to do\u00a0in order to accomplish the things they WANT\u00a0to do. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-4620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-success","tag-the-most-important-principle-of-success","sticky"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/focus.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2EGlL-1cw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4620"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30975,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4620\/revisions\/30975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}