The Need for Focus: Day 5 of 76

Okay, many of you are now thinking about:

1. the skill you’d like to improve, and
2. an initial action you can take on your journey to improving that skill.

 

At this point, what do you think is your greatest threat?

 

Distraction.

 

That’s right… Disruption. Interruption.  Anything that would break your focus when you are working to improve that skill (or accomplish anything for that matter).

 

*** Hang on… someone’s at the door… it’s the UPS guy *** My copy of Gary Vaynerchuk’s new big hit book, “Crush It! Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion” just arrived from Amazon.  What do you think? Just judging by the title, wasn’t this book written just for us? I can’t wait to read it.

 

The book’s arrival reminds me that yesterday, I had a slightly difficult decision to make. Yesterday morning, I saw a Tweet from Gary V. saying that he was going to be at the Elliott Bay bookstore in Seattle around lunchtime. I had heard of Gary and his amazing story, and was extremely attracted to the idea of meeting him and getting an autographed copy of his book. (I not only love to read but I also love to collect first editions.)

 

However, my number one priority for the day was working on this “76 days” project and preparing for my first Toastmaster’s speech. It was a bit painful to pass on the bookstore adventure but, in the end, I had to listen to that little voice inside. It was telling me that this trip to the bookstore - although it would surely be awesome - was a distraction, and that I would have a chance to meet @garyvee in the future.

 

*** Okay, interruption over… what was I saying… ***

 

Oh yeah, don’t let distractions pull you off course, even temporarily. When you’re working on your new skill or your big dreams, make sure there are no disruptions… NO MULTI-TASKING!

I've been convinced that multi-tasking and distractions - anything that causes me to lose focus - is way too expensive.

 

As Ansel Adams might remove dead twigs to eliminate all extraneous elements from a masterpiece composition, you too must get rid of distractions.

 

As a musician might remove extra instruments and go the simpler route (since music is truly the space in between the notes and not noise), we too need to simplify and concentrate and focus.

 

But there’s something we need to do first. In order to eliminate distractions, we must first define what is core and what is distraction.

 

To go back to the photographer analogy, I often tell photography students to “first identify the ‘star’ or main subject of your photo.” What is the central idea or main attraction?

 

We must do that with our creative dreams too.

 

FIRST – Figure out what’s important.

SECOND – Cut the distractions.

 

If we do this one thing only, we will see huge dividends over the next 72 days. And I mean (read in Donald Trump’s voice) HUGE!

 

HUGE!

 

So tomorrow we’ll talk about how to find your core values. But you’re already on the right path. Trust that intuition when you came up with one skill you’d like to improve. Run with that. It’s a great place to start.

 

Comments

[donna rae moratelli]

THis is so true and an excellent point! Distraction is a true threat!

[donna rae moratelli]

Hi Jim,I just wanted to let you know that I have been following 76 Days to Selfless Success since day one. Every morning when I wake up,I turn on the computer and come here first and will do so until day 76.A great number BTW. I am totally intrigued and can't get it off my mind!Every sentence is an inspiration. I am looking at life differently already. This is awsome!! I wish you the very,very best!

[Jim Miotke]

Thanks so much Donna Rae. I can't thank you enough. This is a great comment to end my day on. You rock!