Nothing feels better than achieving your goals. To stand on top of a mountain that you once thought was insurmountable and look down at the path that you took… there’s just nothing like it.

But to achieve goals one must set them and, more importantly, remain focused. To set a goal without a plan and without focus is about as good as throwing a quarter into a wishing well.

How to set the right goals? More importantly, how to remain focused on them? This is the $64,000 question of self-improvement and self-actualization. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

Fortunately, we have no shortage of men who have achieved great things who are willing to share their wisdom about how they transformed aspirations into goals — and goals into reality. Whether they be philosophers or titans of industry, one hallmark of men of achievement is that they are often willing to give back to those looking to blaze the same trails they did, if only in the form of a bit of wisdom to help them along the way.

When you sit down to make some goals, or if you feel yourself straying from the path, give a read to some of these quotes we’ve culled from some of the most accomplished figures in human history. They’ll help you to keep your head down when things get tough.

Quotes About Finding Focus and Staying Focused

 

Steve Jobs quote on focus

 

“Focusing is about saying No.”

Steve Jobs

 

Peter Drucker quote on focus

 

“Efficiency is doing things right; Effectiveness is doing the right things.”

Peter Drucker

 

Lev Grossman quote on focus

 

“Busyness – that state of constant distraction that allows people to avoid difficult realities and maintain self deceptions.”

Lev Grossman, citing Søren Kierkegaard

 

Unknown quote on focus

 

“Starve your distractions, feed your focus.”

Unknown

 

Zig Ziglar quote on focus

 

“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.”

Zig Ziglar

 

Warren Buffett quote on focus

 

“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.”

Warren Buffett

 

Seneca quote on focus

 

“There is nothing that the busy man is less busy with then living; there is nothing harder to learn.”

Seneca

 

W. Churchill quote on focus

 

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”

Winston Churchill