It’s hard to believe it’s already February, isn’t it? I hope you’re still on track with the intentions you set at the close of 2009, but if you’re finding yourself ‘stuck’ I’ve got a nice story to share with you, and some strategies to set you back on your 2010 path to prosperity.

Personally, I’m looking forward to a busy year. I’ve made note of my speaking engagements in the section to the left, as well as an announcement about my latest book, due out in the spring.

I hope you enjoy the following animal tale; many of you know that in Africa, as is true throughout the world, morality tales such as this one always feature animal protagonists. They instruct us with humor, and insight – without “stepping on” our human egos or emotions.

Feel free to write me with your comments, at:albert@albertmensah.com.

Until next month,

Two Roads Overcame the Hyena

A very hungry hyena went out on the Tanzanian plains to hunt for food. He came to a branch in the bush road where the two paths veered off in different directions. He saw two goats caught in the thickets at the far end of the two different paths. With his mouth watering in anticipation, he decided that his left leg would follow the left path and his right leg the right path. As the two paths continued to veer in different directions he tried to follow them both at once. Finally he split in two.

The Lesson within the Tale

Get focused and stay focused! Do you know the easiest way to do that? While you may not like my answer, I’m going to give it to you as bluntly as I can: stop listening to others. That means turning off the television news, stop reading the newspaper, and when your friends start to make disparaging comments about the economy or the lack of opportunities and jobs – ask them to stop the negative ‘chatter.’

Your intention is to walk your own path; the one you’ve chosen because you feel it is the best one for you. Listening to others only causes you to second-guess your own brilliant thinking, and you’ll find yourself with too many paths in front of you. You’ll become separated from your own inner being – much like the hyena in the story, you’ll find that you’re unable to make the right choice.

Getting Focused

It’s true: getting focused requires mental toughness. I’ve got 9 suggestions to add to the one noted above.

1. Listen to the experts. Read biographies and listen to audio programs telling of winners who have overcome tremendous obstacles and setbacks to become successful. Check out success stories in magazines and the Internet. You’ll find that they are people just like you – if they can achieve their dream, so can you.

2. Cultivate patience, pacing, and persistence. You don't need to go through emotional or physical pain to succeed. The concept of “no pain, no gain” is a myth. When you realize that failure and handicaps have not prevented winners in any area of life, you gain more confidence and courage to pursue your own dreams.

3. "What next?" thinking. Give yourself solution-oriented feedback when solving your problems. Don't dwell on what went wrong. What are you going to do about it? Spend your energy on moving forward, finding an answer.

I keep a daily journal where I answer these questions: What did I accomplish today? What went well? What could I have done better? How do I feel about my progress? Are my goals making me reach, or am I just going through the motions? Am I focused? And the million dollar question: Are my goals my own?

4. Get comfortable with the unfamiliar. Make it a part of your daily routine to do something totally different than what you normally do. Work out at a different gym. Drive to work using a different route. A number of small changes will help you to be better prepared to handle diverse environments with greater calm and confidence.

5. Protect your body and your health. Teach yourself and your children to use positive self-talk about fitness and personal health. Too much attention is paid to minor aches and pains, in our society, as if there's value to not feeling good. Break that habit!

6. Don't be a victim of ads and fads. Make sure the thing that impresses you meets your criteria, and satisfies your concerns. Mental toughness doesn't mean going it alone, with lose-weight-fast or get-rich-quick schemes. Mental toughness means learning from those who have been successful, not trendy.

7. Spend your time with people who have already achieved their goals or who are dedicated to goals similar to yours. Avoid associating with people who have the same unresolved problems or who are frustrated by their lack of achievement. A strong community of like-minded people gives you motivation, support, and purpose for succeeding.

8. Focus on desired results. Winners dwell on the rewards of success. Losers focus on mistakes and failure. Do what's necessary NOW. Be in the present. Then you don't have to worry about what happened yesterday or what's going to happen tomorrow. Thus, two-thirds of your worries disappear.

9. Expect the unexpected. You can't control what nature and others do. You can anticipate what MAY happen, and prepare for them as best you can. You can also control your response to what happens.

A Technique for Staying Focused

I’ve found that imbalance in your mental energy can leave you unable to focus. Break the pattern, and you'll effectively return to the present moment -- and the task at hand. A tried-and-true balancing practice is four-corner breathing, which combines the use of an outer focal point (a window, a picture frame) with deep, rhythmic breaths. Try this meditation to jolt yourself into high gear or settle a skittish mind. It works!

Four-Corner Breathing

1. Find an object nearby that has four corners -- a box, your monitor, or even this page.

2. Start at the upper-left-hand corner and inhale for 4 counts.

3. Turn your gaze to the upper-right-hand corner and hold your breath for 4 counts.

4. Move to the lower-right-hand corner. Exhale for 4.

5. Now shift your attention to the lower-left-hand corner. Tell yourself to relax and smile. Repeat 3 to 5 times, or as often as you like.

Source: Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., psychologist, attention expert, and author of Finding Your Focus Zone.

My Newest Book

I’m in the process of finishing my newest book, and wanted you folks to be aware that it will be available soon. Entitled, WAKE UP! To Your Own Potential and the Hidden Opportunities in Challenging Times, it provides readers with insights, activities, and strategies to overcome adversity and prosper – even when those around you are telling you it’s just not possible. Stay tuned for the publication details! If you’ve not read my earlier books, check them out here.

Coaching Services

Are you ready to change the rest of your tomorrows TODAY?

I pride myself in living what I teach, engaging each client to move them toward achieving their most sought after goals in every aspect of their life, career, and business is my sacred mission.

I offer one-on-one coaching exclusively, because I feel it’s the most effective. Whether in-person and/or by phone, this coaching enables you to identify and develop skills, strengths, resources, abilities, and strategies that you never realized you possessed.

You’ll earn effective techniques and a proven system for overcoming challenges and maximizing performance. You can choose a focused one-on-one coaching program that is truly customized for you– based on your specific goals and objectives, and Albert Mensah-enhanced to create a unique program for your development.

Please contact me to arrange a complimentary half-hour consultation: albert@albertmensah.com

I had the good fortune recently to attend the 2010 Grammy's at the Kodak Theatre. The stage elevated many singers and performers to what was certainly recognition that will be remembered as the peak of their lives. There was no common factor to those achievers; not age, not background and not the number of years it took them to achieve this award of excellence. When will you achieve your goals?