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How A Lack Of Focus Kept My Friend Broke For 6 Years.

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I see a lot of people who are not focused. They’re trying to do too many things and then wondering why nothing sticks.

My friend is one of these unfocused people. We worked together six years ago and when we parted ways, he was left broke (again). Six years on, he’s only just got out of being broke in the last few months.

His lack of focus

In the last six years, he’s done the following:

– Tried to start various tech companies
– Led an FX business
– Attempted a few property deals
– Looked for ways to make money with cryptocurrency

The list goes on and on. He keeps trying to do everything and it’s kept him broke permanently.

He broke the cycle.

How did he get out of this rut? He went back to his roots. See he’s a property genius at heart. If there’s one thing he knows better than anyone it’s property. He see’s opportunities in property that no one else does. When people see a disaster, he sees a property with potential.

He knows when to buy, how to buy, who will buy it from him later, where to buy, the work that needs to be done and the rough costings of a new development. He can do all of this on the back of an envelope.

Since he was a little boy, he’s read the back of his dad’s newspapers and analyzed the property section. Property runs in his family and through his veins. When his property business when bankrupt more than a decade ago, he lost his way. He forgot his calling.

Then his brother stepped in.

Like me, his brother knew he was a genius in property. After seeing him fail every year and his wife and three children suffer as a result of it, he offered a solution.

His brother asked him if he’d like to earn a six-figure salary looking for property deals for him. My friend accepted the offer and shifted all of his focus away from his other bogus projects back to property again.

He’d ignored property for so long and it was there the whole time waiting for him. He tried to focus on so many different hobbies and ideas instead of the one that he knew was his calling. This opportunity his brother gave him got him out of being broke.

He then had some success picking some golden property sites for his brother and found his mojo again.

The time then arrived.

One deal that he was recently working on required more work than usual. It was an opportunity to bring in investors and partner. My friend asked me whether it was right to ask his brother for equity in the deal.

I told him that he needs to understand his value and bring that to the table. He responded that he had no money to put in so he felt asking for equity was wrong.

I then explained to him this little concept:

Your value is not determined by how much money you have. The greatest value you have has nothing to do with money.

The value each of us has is in our ability to find something to focus on, pursue it and love the process at the same time. Money is the least valuable thing any of us has to offer.

With that piece of advice, he’s taken equity in the deal and now has his regular salary. He’s also got a few opportunities to use this newfound focus of property again to make some money on the side.

Why a lack of focus hurts?

My friend did so poorly for six years because his focus was everywhere. He tried to focus on things that he didn’t care about and avoided focusing on his passion because he’d failed at it once before.

What he’s taught me and what he can teach all of you, is that you can’t avoid your passion.

“If you love something you have to focus on it and not let failures along the way stop you”

Diverting your focus to other pursuits because you failed is not a solution. Eventually, like my friend, you’ll end up going back to that one thing you love.

It’s painful when things blow up in your face and don’t go the way you want but you can’t let that distract you from your focus. If you love property, then go do it. If you love writing, then go do it. If you love playing sport, then go do it.

Expect things to go wrong.
Allow things to go wrong.
Never let things going wrong take you away from your focus.

Focus changes it all.

What I have loved seeing about my friend’s situation is that his focus has now become laser sharp. When someone comes to him with a business idea, he ignores it unless it’s property. He knows that the long game of following his dream is more important than short-term success.

He knows that distractions are guaranteed but his decision to stay focused is within his control. You have to be disciplined to be focused.

“You cannot ignore what you are destined to do although you should ignore what other people believe you’re destined to do”

My friend’s life has been changed for good because he’s stopped his habit of being unfocused. Property will take some for him to succeed at again and that’s fine. He can’t avoid property any longer and he now sees the benefits of being focused on it.

What’s your focus?

There’s something that above all else is the most important thing to you. Maybe, like my friend, you’ve failed at it and tried to focus on lots of other distractions. My challenge to you is to get back on track again.

Focus your time on that goal or that passion you have. Stop letting other people give you their ideas and their dreams. Focus on the work you know deep down you must do and accept the low points as part of the commitment to being focused.

If you don’t start to become focused, you too could have a six-year low point like my friend. It’s unnecessary and focus can help you win back your life.

Focus is everything.

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net

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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

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What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

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  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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