Free to Focus

by Michael Hyatt

 

I’ve read all of Michael Hyatt’s books and can say I’m a fan. One reason I like them so much is they offer practical advice that can be implemented immediately. In addition, Hyatt shows you how to execute through excellent examples. Finally, he almost always provides tools to make it easier to accomplish the purpose. Is the information he’s presenting new and unchartered by others? No. But, he’s always fresh in his approach.

I must admit I thought Free to Focus would be just another explanation of an overwhelming system about time management. It is not. Yes, managing time is an element of it, but Free to Focus really is about spending time on the things that are most important and that a person desires to do. It doesn’t promise you’ll reach every goal you have for yourself, but it does offer a guide on how you can reach a point where you’re focusing on what really matters both professionally and personally.

There are three basic principles covered:

Stop – A person must get clear on his/her objectives (formulate), determine what brings the most passion that you are most proficient at (evaluate), and learn to renew (rejuvenate).

Cut – A person has to focus on the Desire Zone (passion and proficiency) and the way to do that is to eliminate (this may mean saying no to good things), automate (using technology and software to your advantage), and delegate (yep, you need to stop doing everything yourself).

Act – A person needs to consolidate (focus on one thing at a time and mega-batch similar activities), designate (what deserves your attention now, later, and not at all), and activate (eliminate distractions and practice mindfulness).

If you want to be more productive, Hyatt says it’s not about getting more done; it’s about getting the right things done. Free to Focus helps you determine what the right things are and then shows you how, with great tools, you can stay focused on the right things.