Focus

 

Maybe it’s my age…or maybe it’s just the world we live in. Either way, I’ve noticed it’s harder to stay focused for any length of time. Distractions are everywhere.

It’s amazing how quickly we learn about breaking news and world events through social media, smartphones, and the internet. And then there’s the rest, all the useless information that fills our feeds and steals our attention. Interruptions are always just a tap away. But focus matters. It’s the difference between staying busy and being productive. Between motion and progress. The way we receive and share information may have changed, but one thing hasn’t, results still matter. If we’re not producing results, whether at work or at home, we’re not truly succeeding.

Guard your focus like it’s your most valuable resource because it is. Tune out the noise and give your best attention to what truly moves you forward.

“The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business; or almost anywhere else for that matter.”

-       Lee Iacocca

The Pace of Life

 

Life moves at an incredible pace these days. News is available immediately. Social media is instantaneous. The controls for our lives sit at our fingertips. This is not all bad, but it is not all good either. Connectivity has its benefits, but it can also overwhelm us. Sometimes we need to slow down, tap the brakes. The only way to accomplish that is to disconnect and unplug. It is not easy.

 

I read a lot of fiction, in addition to the business books recommended by my business coach, which I carefully read word for word. Recently, while reading a work of fiction, I came across an interesting line. It was a comment made by a CIA agent in the story.

 

-          Things only slow down if you apply your own brakes and take control of the precious short time allotted to you in life.

 

It is up to you. Think about it.

 

Bring Light Not Heat

 

Recently I was listening to my favorite podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, and they were discussing the concept of brining light not heat to a difficult situation.  It is really an incredible analogy.  In situations where you need to confront someone or want to make a point, bringing the heat does not work.  If you lead with heat, you will be met with heat.  We really want to lead with light.  We want the other person to see our position not hear our anger.  Heat ramps up emotion.  Light brings clarity. 

Unfortunately, heat makes good news.  Our society feeds off conflict and contentiousness, but heat breeds mistrust.  Volume, anger, cursing, and finger pointing are all versions of heat.  They serve little more than to escalate a situation.  Calm, steady tones, and sincerity are forms of light.  They may not lead to agreement, but they can lead to understanding and acceptance.  Next time you are faced with a difficult conversation, lead with light!  Leave the heat at home.

*Portions of this MMM were taken from an episode of At The Table podcast with Patrick Lencioni.  For those that are interested it is Episode 100 – Go Ahead, Enter the Danger.

Tone and Delivery

How powerful is the tone and delivery of your words when you speak?  You probably don’t realize the impact your expression has on others.  It is not what you say, but how you say it that counts.  Have you ever met someone that can deliver the worst possible news, but does it in a way that you feel okay about it?  On the other hand, what about someone who communicates great news, but does so in a way that seems to ruin the good news itself.  Those are the extreme examples of the impact of how you say something.  Be mindful of the impact of tone and delivery on your message.

In the news

You don’t need the Monday Morning Minute to comment on current events.  There are plenty of other sources for commentary on the news. However, I feel differently given the events of this past week. 

Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash – I was impacted by this more so than I expected.  I am not a Lakers fan, Kobe fan, or really an NBA fan. Perhaps, it was the fact that there were three 13-year-old athletic girls involved in the crash that reminded me of my granddaughter who is that age. Maybe, it was the thought of the families left behind and the outpouring of stories of support and love for those that were lost.  Whatever the case, it is a reminder of the fragile and short nature of our lives. I have already been blessed with 20 more years than Kobe got, but beyond that there is no guarantee. 

Coronavirus – The case count for this deadly virus is over 8,200 (as of this writing.)  This causes me think about how small the world truly is.  We loosely use the term “it’s a small world”, but the speed and distances of which this virus has spread, shows us the true small world we live in today.  We are incredibly connected, not just electronically, but physically through the travel and movement of people globally.  It also reminds me that medicine is still an art and not a science.  As much as we know about disease and disease prevention, this particular virus has a head-start on our professional medical community.  It is not a helicopter crash, but it is a life-threatening event outside of our control.

Life is precious, yet fragile.  Hold on to those you love closely.  Don’t put off saying what needs to be said.  Don’t delay going where you want to go.  Do the things now that you enjoy.  Live life to the fullest today. Remember, we are promised nothing beyond the moment we are currently living.