Power of Focus

[Heather O'Sullivan (HeatherO)]

For many of us "lack of focus" is our biggest nemesis. It is for me!

In the vision groups that I coach, that is the biggest challenge for most. This assignment often gets them in a tailspin: "Focus on ONE market segment for 90 days"

One of the most brilliant things that Steve Jobs did was to understand and demand focus.

In an interview with Fortune, he made a similar distinction:

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully."

I often say "just because you can, doesn't mean you should!"

We only have so much energy, "RAM" and resources in any given day. How can you "pick something" and be more remarkable because of it?

I look forward to your comments!

 

Originally posted at HeatherO.com

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

H, so true. I LOVE this part of his quote: It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. That is the absolute truth!

[Diogenes Ruiz]

Agreed! - The reality of our culture is that it runs on what I call "Interruption Fuel". Everything from TV to the Internet has a huge pull to take you off track. It seems that our technology thrives on this ability to interrupt. Focus is more important than ever. As a creative person I struggle with this at times but I think the greater danger for all of us is that the new breed of interruption is kind of sexy and fun. So it has a greater potential to take you off focus.

Thanks for the reminder Heather - good post!

[Heather O'Sullivan (HeatherO)]

Thanks Angel! I agree re: the quote. It's a tough call for all of us! I agree w/what Pat H. says "people who aren't super smart are kinda lucky. They can only do one thing so it makes it easy" :)

Diogenes, You are so right! (as I sit here surfing facebook instead of getting ready for my appt:)

[Olalah ~ Marketing Strategy Pro]

Steve Jobs was an inspiration - not because of his vision for technology, but simply because of his wisdom for humanity.

[Brenda Priest]

the pomodoro technique works great, uninterrupted time to work, plus breaks!

[Heather O'Sullivan (HeatherO)]

I agree 100% O! I can't tell you how hard it was for me not to quote him several times during breakthrough!
Thanks Brenda :)

[Leslie Flowers]

Focus or Will is one of our six mental muscles or faculties. When finely tuned, you can do what Jobs did. When weak or atrophied it can work against you (like any muscle). Focus got very diluted when we decided "multi tasking' was the 'think to do.' Likely when computers entered our lives, bathrooms and bedrooms. We never could do more than one thing at a time and multi tasking actually causes LOSS OF FOCUS. Nice piece Heather.