Principles and Strategies of Focus

The Department of Guidance and Counseling, in collaboration with the Career Guidance Department, organized a lecture on Tuesday, November 19, 2025 titled Principles and Strategies of Focus presented by Mr. Falah Al-Nabhani (an employee in the Human Resources Department at Sohar International Urea & Chemical Industries) which was attended by a number of students and employees. In the lecture the presenter emphasized that defining a vision is a fundamental step towards achieving any goal and is essential for success in personal or professional life. This report outlines the significance of defining a vision, developing a clear plan, and focusing on a single goal to achieve success. 1. Defining the Vision – The Bigger Picture Vision serves as the foundation upon which individuals build their goals and ambitions. As Stephen Covey stated, “All things are created twice. There's a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things." This concept implies that success begins with imagination and mental clarity before it materializes into reality. It can be likened to planning the construction of a house or writing a book before the project takes shape. Thus, vision acts as the initial blueprint that aids in constructing the future. William James emphasized that most people live within a narrow scope of what they can achieve. However, everyone possesses abilities and potential that can be utilized more effectively. Those who define their vision clearly can maximize their capabilities. 2. Developing a Clear Plan to Achieve the Vision Once the vision is defined, the next step is crafting a clear and specific plan to achieve the goals. As Jim Rohn said, "If you don’t design your own plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan." This underscores that planning is crucial for success as many individuals are unaware of their direction in life, while others hesitate or lack a well-defined plan. Having a clear plan motivates and guides individuals toward their goals. Statistics indicate that 50% of people are indifferent to their direction in life, 40% hesitate in defining their paths, and only 10% know exactly what they want. Therefore, a clear plan helps determine the path and contributes to achieving goals. 3. Focusing on the “One Thing” An essential strategy for achieving goals is asking the question: " What is the one thing I can do that will make everything else easier or no longer necessary?" This question prompts deep thinking and encourages prioritizing the most critical tasks that could have the most significant impact on one’s life. This strategy emphasizes that focusing on a single goal can accelerate the achievement of other goals or render them unnecessary. It helps individuals distinguish between essential and secondary tasks that may consume time and energy without adding real value. 4. Focus as a Key to Success Concentrating on a single goal is one of the most critical factors for success. In an age of numerous options and abundant knowledge, focusing on a specific idea, project, or skill becomes essential. Researcher David highlights that individuals should be aware of what they want and strive to achieve it by focusing on a goal that they are passionate and creative about. Focusing on one goal can yield remarkable results, particularly when an individual has talent and passion in that area. To define a vision and achieve goals, one must have a clear image of what they aim to reach and develop an organized plan to work toward that goal. Concentrating on the "one thing" simplifies everything else and can be the key to success. Ultimately, the more defined the goal and clear the plan, the greater the chances of achieving success and growth in life. At the end of the lecture, all attendees expressed their appreciation for the valuable insights gained. Mr. Ahmed Al-Farsi, Head of the Guidance and Counseling Department, thanked the presenter and presented him with a certificate and a token of appreciation. Report Prepared by: Nadia Al-Saidiya