Boot camp is a lot like a sensory deprivation tank where you are blocked off from the outside world, and access to news, television, and entertainment is severely restricted. For some of us, this sudden cocooning plays on our minds more than the physical and mental challenges of the training itself, and as a news junkie my forced separation from the real world nearly drove me crazy.
This is all by design, and while a bit draconian for civilian life, illustrates an important point about focus and avoiding distractions.
Around the time I staggered off the airplane in San Antonio, Texas and met my drill sergeant, the Iranian Hostage situation was entering a climactic moment. One day in particular irritated me as Sergeant Martin walked into the training room and informed us of the failed attempt to rescue the hostages at a staging area in the Iranian desert known as Desert One.
I cringed at the thought of missing important news and longed for the day when I could relax on my couch and watch the news to my heart’s content. A few days later I remember seeing the base flag at half mast as we marched to yet another briefing or medical examination.
“Sir, Airman Dustin reports,” I shouted to Sergeant Martin.
“What do you want, Dustin?” Sergeant Martin answered.
“Sir, why is the flag at half mast?”
“I don’t know,” Sergeant Martin said. “I guess somebody important died. Dig those heels in. Hup, two, three, four.”
And that’s the way it is in boot camp. The president could die at his desk and a recruit would be the last person on earth to find out—but I digress…
…Years later I learned my compulsion to devote the most productive time of each day to current events and socializing was in fact a disease known as “disconnection anxiety.”
Disconnection anxiety disease is real, and it will sabotage any efforts you make towards achieving a goal, building a business, or living your life.
In some ways I once lived my life like the Rainman, where I suffered anxiety and stress if I was not home in time to catch “Wopner at Five.”
But my secret little anxiety disease went beyond Wopner, and bordered on a neurosis, where I was compulsively driven to monitor the news all day, checked my email about 18 times an hour, and carried my iPhone in my hand, lest I miss a call.
But that was then, and this is now.
I finally reached a point where I realized my disconnection anxiety disease had taken over my life, and while I felt busy, I was never actually getting anything done.
As a business owner and investor I thrive on current information, but it can reach a point where you suffer from what I call “information overload.” Information overload has a way of blinding you to true opportunities because you have too many choices in life. But when you can dump the background noise and focus on one objective, it is amazing how productive you can be.
I also came to realize that my disconnection anxiety disease was just an excuse not to do the things that mattered. In fact, by surrounding myself with information, I was effectively convincing myself that I did not have time to do the things that would truly help me build my business.
Think about this: What you may actually be doing by hiding behind the compulsion to “keep informed” is avoiding stepping outside your comfort zone and doing the difficult or unpleasant things necessary to build your business.
Get outside your comfort zone and do the things you know in your heart must be done to find success. This may mean…
Missing Monday Night Football
Spending your weekends building a business rather than fishing with your buddies
Devoting your free time to reading a business book rather than watching a movie
Updating your website or blog instead of chatting with friends online
The bottom line is that disconnection anxiety is an excuse to delay taking action. Take a look at the assignment below and decide for yourself what is important.
Day 5 Assignment
Paul Zane Pilzer talks about relationships as part of your personal wealth formula in his book, “The Next Millionaires.” According to Pilzer, the more relationships you have (business and personal, not nefarious), the quicker and easier it will be for you to build wealth and be a part of the explosion in new millionaires.
Just this morning I was filling up my gas tank when a construction truck pulled up next to me. It was obvious the man was in the concrete business and based on my knowledge of the local construction industry, I knew times were very tough for concrete guys.
I hesitated, and then asked him, “Are you keeping busy?”
“We’re doing alright,” he said and slipped his credit card into the card reader.
Surprised by his answer, I responded, “I’m glad to hear it. My neighbor is in the concrete business and he hasn’t had work for months.”
The man smiled and simply said, “It pays to know people. I know a lot of people.”
I finished gassing up and waved goodbye. As I drove away I thought to myself, that is exactly what Paul Zane Pilzer said. According to him, in today’s economy your ability to create wealth will be based not so much on how much land you own, or how many physical resources you control, but on how many people you know.
And he’s right.
From an online marketer’s perspective, one of the best ways to measure potential is by how many people you can reach out and touch online. This includes social networking circles, email lists, and your ability to drive traffic to your blog or website. Retail store owners and network marketers face the same challenges and must find ways to drive traffic to their store and their opportunity meetings to achieve success.
For today’s assignment I want to challenge you to “get social.” Go to your favorite search engine and find an active forum or group relevant to your business or field of interest. Join the group and become a regular participant in their discussions.
Since we’re on the topic of procrastination and finding excuses to avoid taking action, I want to recommend two excellent books for you:
· Awaken the Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins
· The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
Anthony Robbins’ “Awaken the Giant Within” is a classic in the self-help and motivational genres. Robbins first attempts at marketing his motivational techniques using infomercials turned many people off at first, but as testimonial after testimonial began to trickle in from people who used his techniques to transform their lives, his ideas gained a solid footing in the market.
Robbins used the techniques described in this book to become a millionaire by the age of 24.
Another classic in the same field is Stephen Covey’s bestseller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” If you’re like me, and need an occasional reminder to take action and stop procrastinating, this book can be very helpful. As the title suggests, this book will show you what successful people do and how you can copy their behaviors to duplicate success in your own life.
Realistically, you will not be able to read these books in one day, but your assignment is to acquire these books through a Kindle download, or from your library, and place them on your nightstand.
Every night before you go to sleep spend at least 30 minutes reading random sections from each book.