Your thoughts are always looking for something to focus on. They jump from one thing to another -a past experience, memory, news, or a programme you watched.

We are constantly bombarded with messages, and it is important to filter out what you want to focus on. If you do not do this, you will find that your thoughts and attitude for the day are determined by outside influences and more often than not, has a negative slant.

It is important to invest a small amount of time writing down what you intend to accomplish so you can focus on that. Your ability to concentrate on what you intend to do will determine your success.

I meet so many people who aspire to do so much yet never give themselves the time to accomplish it. Life tends to get in the way. Make time for what is important to you. An easy way to tell if you are likely to get things done is to look at how you spend your time.

If you want to get fit but have not spent any time exercising in the last 3 months, you are not going to reach your goal. Similarly, if you want to pass your professional exams but have not spent any time studying in the last week, you are only making your own life difficult.

Focus on what you want to and invest time in that activity. The results will follow. That is the process of being successful. At times, we may not see results for some time -this is called the plateau of latent potential. During this time, stay positive and protect your mind from negative influences.

I recommend you use my Advanced Tax Condensed notes. This streamlines the process so that you can quickly recall key information under exam pressure.