Black Hole Focus: How Intelligent People Can Create A Powerful Purpose For Their Lives

158 Pages·2014·1.75 MB·English

by  Hankel

Contents
Cover
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Preface
My Life as a Sheep
From Sheep to Strategist
Introduction
Part One: Why You Need a Purpose
Chapter 1: Make Your Purpose a Matter of Life or
Death
Purpose Linked to Longevity
The Connection Between Birth and Retirement
Chapter 2: Make Your Purpose an Escape Plan
Chapter 3: Ask Why
Your Worst Pain is Your Strongest WHY
Chapter 4: Know Your Needs
Chapter 5: Energize Your Dreams
Purpose provides energy and clarity
Chapter 6: Start at the End
All Great Stories are Created in Reverse Order
All Great People are Ordinary People with Great Purposes
Part Two: How to Find Your Purpose
Chapter 7: Ruthlessly Evaluate Your Current
Position
Eliminate the Prejudice of Your Own Perspective
Judge Past Actions Ruthlessly
Own up to Your Current Place in Life
Chapter 8: Create a Wish List of Actions
Chapter 9: Name Your Future Position
You Must Believe You can do Anything
Chapter 10: Determine Your Core Priorities
Make a List of all the Things You Currently Value
Chapter 11: Define Your New Core Priorities
Don’t be Afraid to Let Go of Your Old Priorities
Adding New Priorities
Chapter 12: Set Short-Term Benchmarks
Chapter 13: Tell Yourself an Inspiring Story
Program Your Mind with Positive Storytelling
Recognize the Stories You Tell Yourself
Chapter 14: Be the Hero of Your Story
Know When to Change Your Story
Chapter 15: Re-Write Your Story
Chapter 16: Question Your Focus
Questions Point You Towards Your Purpose
Questions Become Obsessions
Questions are Tools
Chapter 17: Create a Personal Slogan
Be a Player, Not a Pawn
Make a Statement
A Slogan is a Lyric, Not a Lecture
Chapter 18: Start a Meme
A Meme is a Virus
Chapter 19: Put a Compelling Vision in Front of You
Create a Compelling Vision
How to Create a Vision Board
Show Off Your Vision
Chapter 20: Turn Your Vision into a Decision
Mind Over Matter
Decide What You Want and Your Mind will Find a Way to Get
It
Chapter 21: Move from Decision to Conviction
Expectations are Your Ticket to a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
The Process of Superimposition
Chapter 22: Celebrate Your Progress
Motivate Yourself Daily
Chapter 23: Run the Numbers Behind Your Vision
Establish Your Destiny Without Considering Money
Map Your Desired Daily Income with Short-Term Benchmarks
Part Three: How to Fulfill Your Purpose
Chapter 24: Pursue Mastery
Greatness is Achieved by Applying Correct Principles
Action is the Source of Mastery
Chapter 25: Acknowledge the 10,000-Hour Rule, but
Don’t Follow It
Association
Convergence
Metamorphosis
Ritualization
Automation
Adjustment
Chapter 26: Avoid the Life Hack Lie
Becoming Truly Great Doesn’t Come Easy
Don’t Confuse Flakiness with Flexibility
Chapter 27: Avoid Willpower Depletion
Willpower Depletion Theory
Cognitive Strain Inhibits Willpower
Chapter 28: Develop a Can-Do Mindset
Compulsive Planners Finish Last
Patience is a Vice
Chapter 29: Think Inside the Box and Move Laterally
Realize You are the Box
Turn Your Focus Inward and Sideways
You are in Control of Your Focus
Chapter 30: Manipulate Reality
Be Flexible in Your Process and Perspective
Attack Your Perspective
Differentiate Knowledge from Useless Information
Chapter 31: Build Rome Around Your Safety Net
Keep Your Job as a Safety Net
Chapter 32: Generate Me Capital
You are Your Own Best Investment
Chapter 33: Invest in People, Not Ideas
Building Strong Relationships is Strategic, Not Tactical
Chapter 34: Connect Without Getting Lost in the
Crowd
Soft Skills Nurture Hard Skills
One Connection can Change Your Life Forever
Differentiate Yourself in Five Seconds or Less
Chapter 35: Develop a Personalized Escalator Pitch
Chapter 36: The Only Three Skills that Will Matter in
Five Years
Ideas add Quality to Information
Improve Oral Communication
Take Physical Action
Choose the Right Idea
Conclusion
Create a Powerful Purpose
Fulfill Your New Purpose
About the Author
Notes
Preface
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Index
“Isaiah Hankel has written an absurdly motivating book. In fact, it’s so
motivational, I was constantly tempted to put the book down and start getting
things done using Hankel’s strategies. It was put-down-able in the best possible
way. But I always came back for more of Isaiah Hankel’s wisdom—and the
wisdom he distills from Einstein, Ben Franklin and even The Shawshank
Redemption.”
AJ Jacobs, Author of Four New York Times Bestselling Books; Editor at Large,
Esquire Magazine
“Black Hole Focus is a wake up call for anyone who feels stuck, distracted, or
lost in their own life. Isaiah lays out very actionable steps for taking control of
your future and setting yourself up for certain victory. This book will show you
how to think like an entrepreneur and develop the mindset necessary for
achieving your biggest dreams.”
Lewis Howes, Former Professional Football Player and Host of The School of
Greatness
“Be careful if you read this book. Through interesting stories, compelling case
studies and his own inspiring journey, Hankel demolishes your excuses and lays
out a plan to identify and fulfill your life’s purpose.”
Clay Hebert, Founder of Crowdfunding Hacks and Spindows; The Mastermind
Behind Over 35 Successful Kickstarters
“Black Hole Focus is your road map to transformation in ways most have never
even dared to dream. If you want to go from merely living a life to becoming the
hero in your own adventure, start here. Hankel’s words jump off the page, swat
you on the backside, pierce your heart, and take you on a ride into a magical
journey of your own design! Brilliant in its brunt, dazzling in its denouement,
triumphant in its precision, this is one of the most important books you will ever
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Dr Gina Loudon, Fox News Contributor and Syndicated Host of SmartLife;
Author of What Women REALLY Want
“As a memory champion, I realize just how important it is to harness your
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very impressed with Black Hole Focus and strongly believe that it can help you
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incredible success in business and personal endeavors.”
Chester Santos, US Memory Champion; “The International Man of Memory”
“In fighting and in life, focus is what separates winners from losers. Focus is
what helped me win the UFC TUF Championship. Any successful mixed martial
artist will tell you that seeing yourself as a champion is the first step to becoming
a champion. You have to start with a vision. You have to start at the end. That’s
why I love this book, because it tells you to start at the end and work backwards.
Black Hole Focus is an amazing read because it helps people create a vision for
their lives and then it shows them how to achieve their vision. The book makes
you see yourself at the top of the podium and then it gives you a detailed training
plan to help you get there. If you want to be a champion, buy this book. Black
Hole Focus will show you how to win.”
Michael “Maverick” Chiesa, Mixed Martial Artist and UFC TUF Champion
“Isaiah demonstrates a powerful lesson, that we are all masters of our own
destiny. His book provides practical and, more importantly, actionable advice on
how to reach our most important goals while consistently achieving lifelong
career and personal satisfaction. Early career scientists would especially beneit
from its stepwise, methodical approach to fearless self-examination and keen
demonstration of an intensely focused purpose. The chapters on storytelling
strike at the heart of the of the dilemma most scientists and professionals have,
that they are impostors in their own field and are undeserving of happiness and
accolades. As Isaiah explains, this couldn’t be further from the truth once you
recognize the lessons to be learned from past incidents and begin to tell a new
story of perseverance and accomplishment.”
James Gould, PhD, Director of Harvard Medical School Office for Postdoctoral
Fellows
“A brilliantly written step-by-step process to help you learn what you really want
in life and exactly how to get it. Read this book if you want to get focused, find
your purpose and change your life.”
Jacqueline Biggs, Author of the International Bestseller Marketing to Win
“Black Hole Focus is exceptionally well written and the examples found
throughout the book are terrific in showing the reader how to quickly implement