Lesson #1 | Focus on one thing until you see it through to completion.
Daniel’s (my husband’s) life is immersed in football. For over ten years, he has focused on football and nothing else. For example, his schedule is to personally train for 30 to 60 minutes at 4 AM. Between rest and nutrition, he reviews football matches (mostly the same ones), highlights on Instagram, and listens to football commentary on his radio app. Normally, team training takes place in the evening from 5 PM to 7 PM. Then he’s back home to look at more matches until bedtime. I envy his focus.
Lesson #2 | Learn from the best and put it to the test.
Secondly, it helps to actually DO what you’re focusing on. The daily immersion in football via various media outlets is not purely entertainment but a way to study football. On Instagram, he reviews highlights of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, learning from the best in the game. He incorporates the moves from these players and others into his matches. Daniel explained to me that there is a difference between training fitness and match fitness. Personal and team training are necessary, but he has to play matches to test his true level of fitness.
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Lesson #3 | Take rest, you’ll perform better.
It’s important for you to get proper rest so you can perform at your best. A chunk of Daniel’s day is devoted to rest and recovery. Insufficient rest can hinder his performance. In addition, overtraining can lead to injury. He’s attuned to his body. His body advises him when to skip a personal training session and sleep in. In today’s society, oftentimes we take the opposite approach. Instead, we ignore inherent signals from our bodies that we need rest. We overwork our minds and bodies, leading to exhaustion and resulting in various illnesses.
Lesson #4 | Drown out the naysayers. Everyone can’t handle your ambition.
There are always going to be people who think they have your best interest at heart but can’t believe you’re at your level. Be careful not to confide in these people. They can tarnish your inner spirit, distract you from your focus, and have you doubting yourself. People close to Daniel pleaded for him to come home and get a “regular job.” Thank goodness he persevered and followed his passion. You may have people in your life who think they know what’s best for you. The truth of the matter is that they are not pursuing their dreams. Once things start to happen for you, they develop amnesia about discouraging you from following your dreams.
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Lesson #5 | Surround yourself with like-minded individuals.
Connecting with people who share your passion is monumental. Everyone he talks to is somehow affiliated with football. They are either past or present footballers, agents, coaches, or managers. Associating himself with people who share his interests has led to team and position opportunities. These individuals are aware of his position, skill, and dedication to the game. When an opportunity has arisen in the past, they have personally vouched for him. Maintain healthy relationships with individuals who have similar interests to help you reach your goals.
Lesson #6 | Stay humble, recognition will come in due time.
Sometimes you have to play second fiddle. During our three-month honeymoon in Ghana, wherever we went, someone shouted “striker” (from cars, grocery stores, malls, restaurants, and the South African embassy) to greet Daniel. Before coming to the UAE, he played for four professional teams in Ghana as a striker. Not only did his position change from striker to right-back, but he also no longer played professionally; he played amateur football for 5 consecutive years. Despite the demotion, he was grateful for the opportunity to play overseas. He says often, “God’s timing is the best time.”
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Lesson #7 | Don’t quit, take suffering in stride.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better. That’s a guarantee! It’s important that you always remember your WHY. Daniel has countless stories about the adversity he has faced while pursuing his passion for football. He traveled back and forth between Ghana and the UAE on three occasions, but was unable to sign with a team. Two of the three times he arrived in the UAE with no money in his pocket. He had two intangible resources: work ethic and determination. Those two resources sustained him until he signed his first professional contract in the UAE in July 2018, another in January 2019, and another in August 2019.
Daniel has taught me:
You get what you FOCUS on, so FOCUS on what you want.
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Expert Advice
In “The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be“, author Jack Canfield advises on how to manage your day appropriately and improve your focus:
“spend at least 80% of your operating in your core genius, or primary area of expertise–interacting with people or processes that give you the highest payoffs for the time you invest.”
Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul coauthor
He recommends “The Entrepreneurial Time System” by Dan Sullivan, in which you divvy up your time into three kinds of days: Focus, Buffer, and Free Days. On a Buffer Day, you can plan your Focus or Free Days, attend training, network, or engage in activities outside your core genius. A Free Day is from midnight to midnight, doing non-work-related stuff.
If you work a typical 5-day workweek, 4 days (4 x 80%) will be spent on your core genius, 1 day will be a planning day, and you will have 1 full day for fun. I assume you will set aside one day for chores and errands.
I prefer using hours. If you work a typical 40-hour week, 32 hours (40 x 80%) will be spent on your core genius, 8 hours (40 – 32) will be dedicated to planning and other activities, and 1 full day will be for leisure activities.
How do you stay focused? What’s your current schedule? Comment below!