5 Ways to Sustain a Long-Term Career Focus

Make the decision to run a marathon and then prepare, run, recover and repeat the process several times over. Use these guidelines to stay focused on the big picture.

learn more about Marty Fukuda

By Marty Fukuda

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You've heard the analogy: Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

But I believe life is more about consistent, long-term focus. It is about making the decision to run a marathon and then preparing, running, recovering and repeating the process several times over.

With this in mind, consider the main achievements you really want to accomplish during your career. Then use these guidelines to stay focused on the big picture while you tackle the many marathons that constitute life:

Related: The Smartest Long-Term Investment is You

1. Become a professional student.

I don't necessarily mean return to school for an MBA or doctorate. What I urge you to do is to consistently engage in the process of learning new things, both within and outside your chosen field.

Today's entrepreneurs live in an era when free and readily accessible information is at their fingertips -- more so than ever before. If knowledge is power, then it's what businesspeople need to achieve the professional goals found at the finish line.

2. Remember that mistakes are simply expensive tuition.

I have learned that wisdom comes from taking more from mistakes than what they take out of you. Replay mistakes? Yes. Obsess over them? No.

Look at mistakes as a very necessary part of your education -- another way to test your resolve and prepare you to succeed. In the book Great by Choice, author Jim Collins put it brilliantly: "Treat mistakes as expensive tuition; better get something out of it, learn everything you can, apply the learning, and then don't repeat."

3. Rely on the old-fashioned work ethic.

Every week headlines announce yet another tech company that sold for millions, leaving the former owners instantly rich. One could infer from news like this that luck or a single stroke of genius is the impetus for success.

But if you question these entrepreneurs about the real reasons, the phrase "hard work" will pop up in every answer, I'm willing to bet.

A strong work ethic has a way of leveling the playing field. Put in the hours and you'll be in the right place and luckier more often than those who don't. Remember that time doesn't discriminate. Everyone has the same number of hours in a day to work hard and move forward.

Related: The Real Person's Guide to Finding Your Passion and Loving What You Do

4. Work with a purpose.

There's work and then there's working with focus -- and the latter is always preferable. While you're involved in a project, the intent should be mastery of the task at hand.

Do I believe hundreds or thousands of hours of deliberate practice will always accomplish the impossible? No. But if you're in a field or business that you're passionate about and work with unbreakable focus, then more times than not you'll remain a step above the competition.

5. Weigh decisions with the long view in mind.

The battle between short-term versus long-term gratification has been waged for eons by the best and brightest.

It's captured in this everyday question: Should I eat this piece of cake or hit the gym? Devouring the sweet treat will undoubtedly make you feel better in the moment, but you know the gym is the better long-term decision.

When you confront these types of decisions (and you will, every day), always rely on long-range thinking to guide you.

Related: The 3 Decisions That Will Change Your Financial Life

Marty Fukuda

Chief Operating Officer of N2 Publishing

Chicago native Marty Fukuda is the chief operating officer of N2 Publishing, overseeing operations at its corporate headquarters in Wilmington, N.C. He first joined the company as an area director in 2008 after working in the direct sales and print industries. 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Money & Finance

Revenue vs. Profit: What's the Difference?

The difference between revenue and profit is vital to understand in order to run a healthy business. Read on to learn all about these basic economic concepts.

Money & Finance

What Is Market Cap? Here's a Comprehensive Explanation.

Read on to learn how to calculate market cap, explore the different categories and understand how it influences investment analysis.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Business News

A Mississippi News Anchor Is Under Fire for Quoting Snoop Dogg

WLBT's Barbara Bassett used the rapper's "fo shizzle" phrase during a live broadcast, causing the station to let her go.

Career

Thinking of a Career Change? Here Are 4 Steps You Can Take To Get There.

Author Joanne Lipman on what experience and science tell us about successful job pivots.