In Part 6 I issued a call for other bloggers who might want to be featured to discuss their passions and how they stay focused on the thing that drives them. I received a response from a very dynamic young woman who is a perfect example of what Gladwell discussed in Part 7 on building up hours to become successful in the thing you do. Scroll down and view the video for more on this very focused young woman:

We often state “Well, I’ve made a decision” but then fail to outline a specific series of steps we need to take based on that decision, only to later feel defeated that our plan did not work. Decision requires action, and then repeated action. If we make a decision but fail to outline and then take steps regarding that decision, our mind has nothing to focus on but the decision and we fall into this loop that keeps bringing us back to our decision rather than a plan which leads to success. If directed focus is to work the mind has to have an image or idea to focus upon.

Make a pledge to yourself that every time you make a decision you will immediately follow that decision with some form of action and keep taking that action. You will be surprised how your life will change, because directed focus will help you create “luck” in that those actions will serve to put you in the right place at the right time.

Now meet Yolanda, directed focus in action. She is 27, works two jobs, bought a house at 21, and still has time to self-publish her own magazine and write books and poetry. Listen to how she keeps herself motivated: