It's also no secret that Michael practiced longer and harder than just about anyone else in NBA--but that automatically comes with being focused. When you're totally focused on your goal, you do whatever you have to do to succeed.

Now after reading this article, I'm sure many of you are wondering, how do you go about getting properly focused for success?

The very first thing I recommend is a complete re- programming of your mind. Because before you can start walking down that road to success, you first have to get your mind right.

In that regard, there are two books I consider absolute MUST reads, if you are at all serious about being successful in whatever it is you choose to do.

The books are, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill and "The Magic of Thinking Big" by Dr. David Schwartz.

Your local bookstore or library should have both books, since they're all-time classics. If not, try Amazon.com. But whatever you do, get those books!

And remember, "Any success you achieve will be in direct proportion to your focus. The more focused you are, greater will be your success!"

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net

5. Enthusiasm – En Theos means in God. You must have enthusiasm in your life and your endeavors. If you don’t have it, you can get it as you devise goals and achieve them. Enthusiasm is directly related to hope. Set your mind to enthusiastically embrace practices of your achievement.

6. Persistence – In Bible there is a story of a man who had a late visitor; man asked a friend repeatedly to loan him some bread with which to feed visitor. Finally, friend relented and gave man his request. Do we need to be persistent in our endeavors? Absolutely. Crops do not grow unless farmer is persistent; sports victories are not won unless players are persistent; no one graduates from college without persistency.

7. Vision – If you don’t know what you want, if you have no vision of how you want your life to be, you are headed in no particular direction. Any destination must be OK. If you’re unhappy with your life, discover a vision for yourself.

8. Faith – For hope, you must believe things will work out; you are capable of achieving; you have talents and abilities and you’ll be rewarded as you complete your goals. My best suggestion is to have faith in God for your very existence. You’re not promised a lovely walk – it’s often a difficult and long journey. But He is there and He does care and He wants you to be ever more energized for eternity.