Use focus to motivate you past disappointment

During a bad time in his dad’s farming business, Jim S. Forbis, ChFC, CLU, asked his father how he remained positive in the face of adversity. The man’s answer:

“Son, consider the situation; make a decision about what you want to do and how you are going to do it.”

In his 2014 Annual Meeting presentation, “Is your future bigger than your past?” Forbis, a 37-year MDRT member from Memphis, Tennessee, said that his ability to focus on “the next play rather than the last” has helped him thrive and avoid distraction. He then gave a crucial example of someone driving past a letdown to succeed on a high level.

Batter up

In the 2011 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese dropped a pop-up and allowed the opposing Texas Rangers to go ahead in the game. Rather than get derailed by his error, in the ninth inning, Freese hit a triple to tie the game. Then in the 11th inning, he hit a World Series-winning home run.

“His ability to control his attitude, to pull down the window shade on distractions, to have sobriety from negative thought,” Forbis said, “no doubt allowed him to achieve greatness.”

Read more in “Is your future bigger than your past?”

Written by Matt Pais, MDRT Content Specialist