As a bookstore manager, the distractions you face are endless-staff meetings, customer problems, phone calls and e-mails, maintenance problems, vendor rep visits, absentee staff or volunteers ... the list goes on.

If you're like me, there are probably times when you have used a competing demand as an excuse for avoiding the tough thing that needs to be done. But there are also occasions when the new demand needs to become the priority. So what constitutes a distraction and how can we best deal with one to ensure we are being as fruitful as possible?

According to Mr. Webster's dictionary, a distraction is anything that "diverts the mind even to the point of being frantic." Another meaning is "drawing away."

So, anything that draws us away from or diverts us from the "thing" that we need to be doing right then is a distraction.

The best tool for combating distraction, I have found, is focus. This, according to our friend Mr. Webster, is "to concentrate." I am not sure you can concentrate on a single thing when you are doing numerous things.

As managers, we have multiple things that can distract us-draw us away. Sometimes that cannot be avoided, but I believe our best work can be done when we focus on one thing at a time.

For instance, I recall setting out first thing one morning to deal with returns. But a task that could have taken me an hour and a half ending up taking me all day, because I chose to answer every phone call rather than have someone take messages and assist every customer myself rather than allow the volunteer or staff person to do it.

I have come to believe that one of Satan's greatest ploys to keep us from being as productive as we could be is "multi-tasking," trying to do too many things all at the same time.

The most productive people I know, may have several things on their plate at the same time, but they choose to bite off one at a time. The quality of their work reflects their focus.

But focus takes practice—and determination, especially if we are doing something that is not our favorite thing. For myself, I would much rather be with people and those in the store than sitting at my desk doing paperwork or dealing with the computer. It takes sheer determination (and lots of prayer) for me sit down and complete a budget or one of these newsletter articles.

But the results are far better if I stay focused and complete the task-not to mention how happy it makes the editor of this newsletter when he gets a required article in good shape and on time.

One bookstore director I know has a message on her voice mail that advises callers she checks that device only once each day and that the faster way to be in touch with her is through e-mail. She checks e-mail messages at specific times in the day. She does not answer her phone every time it rings, either. She focuses on the task at hand and then she can focus on each call at the end of the day.

If you are the only person running your bookstore, it can be difficult to focus on one thing at a time, but just with controlling phone calls and e-mails, you may find yourself able to complete another task more quickly. Perhaps you could arrange for a volunteer to come in just to answer the phone and answer customer questions on the day you have to do product receiving or budget planning?

It goes completely against the grain of most of us to focus on one task at a time, but just this week, give it a try. See if you are not more satisfied with your projects, tasks and time with people.