The Weapons Of Mass Distraction

The Primary Reason Behind Unachieved Sales Goals

Do you know the primary reason why most salespeople don’t achieve their goals and accomplish everything they are capable of achieving and feel truly fulfilled in life? It is because they Major in the Minor things in life. They Major in the Minor things in life.

Now I first heard that phrase several years ago from one of my early mentors and now friend, Tony Robbins. And although that phrase is pretty simple - its purpose is very powerful.

The Pitfall of Focusing on the Insignificant

Most people focus a majority of their time and energies on INSIGNIFICANT things that keep them from IMPROVING in every aspect of their personal and professional lives – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Increased Challenge of Modern Distractions

Now when Tony first said this many years ago, there were FAR FEWER distractions in life than what we have today. There were no smartphones, there were no iPads, there were no apps, no Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram. IN FACT, the modern Internet wasn’t even around.

The Bombardment of Minor Things

So we are MUCH MORE challenged today to stay focused on the MAJOR things in life - the things that WE SHOULD be doing consistently to be productive and achieve our fullest potential. And what makes this challenge even greater today is that we are being CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED by the MINOR things in life.

The challenge today is that most people; even very smart people who should know better, are completely unaware of the toll that Digital Distractions are having on their lives. Technology has turned most people into Mindless Robots who are at the mercy of OTHER people’s agendas.

A Personal Reflection on Digital Control

Now I know what you are probably thinking – yeah Michael, that may be true for others, but I’m not that bad. I’m not that addicted. I am more in CONTROL of technology and digital distractions than everyone else. Really?

Then think about this. . . What are the FIRST THINGS you do when that alarm goes off every morning? During the first 10 minutes after you wake up, what are the first things you do?

I’m betting that checking your email, or checking Facebook or some other social media site or news feed is on that list. One of the first things you do every morning is to reach for your smartphone or tablet. It has become a HABIT and such a part of the NORMAL ROUTINE for most people that they are UNCONSCIOUSLY aware of even doing it.

Before you do anything else in your day, you have basically become a SLAVE to the digital Weapons of Mass Distraction. They set the tone for your mood, your productivity, and unconsciously engrain the pattern of how you are going to spend a majority of your day; and how PRODUCTIVE you will be from the moment you wake up.

A Common Experience with Morning Digital Interaction

How many mornings after you check your email or Facebook or whatever it is you do, is your mood affected negatively? Even just a little. Think about it! How often do you see an email or Facebook post or Instagram first thing in the morning that puts you in either a bad mood OR state of negativity?

Or forget about a bad mood or being negative, do they put you in a more POSITIVE state to start the day? Chances are they don’t, and you aren’t alone. A recent study by IDC Research found that 79% of all smartphone users check their mobile devices within the first 10 minutes every morning. 79%!

And get this, adults are now spending 87 minutes every day Monday through Thursday, communicating and using social media, primarily texting and using Facebook, and 160 minutes a day Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

That’s 14 HOURS A WEEK, which is about 15% of the time the average adult is awake during a week. And that’s JUST on your SMARTPHONE – it doesn’t even factor in the time that is spent on your laptop surfing the net.

Yet most people are in COMPLETE DENIAL about their usage and the negative impact these digital Weapons of Mass Distraction are having on their lives. And if all of this isn’t bad enough folks, it is only going to get worse.

Emails aren’t slowing down, ads aren’t slowing down, newsfeeds are decreasing. And I GURANTEE YOU that there is NO ONE out in Menlo Park at Facebook or 8 miles down the road at Google who are thinking about how to make you more productive and a valuable contributor to society.

They are working 24/7 on ways to MONOPOLIZE and MONETIZE your time. They want to get you so addicted so they can show advertisers just how much of YOUR time and mind THEY control and make money from this control they have over you.

Three Simple Steps to Regain Control

Now I don’t want to hear from anyone about me being a Facebook or social media hater, because I’m not. But here is a little secret for you – the most productive salespeople, and those making the most money, spend less than 30 minutes a WEEK on Facebook and other social media.

Step 1: Identify One Thing to Learn

30 minutes or less in an ENTIRE WEEK! For most people that is an average MORNING. You see, the best salespeople know that there are more important things in life than the yummy dinner Kathy had last night or commenting on the picture Steve posted while he was out at the bar watching the Eagles game, or on so and so’s picture on their so and so vacation they are trying to make look better than it really is.

Step 2: Dedicate Time to Read and Learn

Everything in life is about control and moderation; so too much of anything is not good. But if you don’t get control of this digital addiction and take proactive measures to do so, then you are going to be just part of the pack, allowing yourself to be mindlessly controlled by others; and wandering through life.

Step 3: Apply What You Learn

These distractions are a major contributor to procrastination, and to be brutally blunt – these distractions just make you stupid. So if you are like the majority of salespeople, and you aren’t hitting your quota consistently and you aren’t earning the income that you are capable of achieving.

Concluding Thoughts on Taking Action

I have to believe that those are TWO BIG PROBLEMS you need to fix in your professional life, and chances are they are affecting your personal life as well. So they aren’t going to get fixed unless you stop doing the SAME THING every day and every week, and START TAKING conscious, proactive steps to fix them.