Power of Focus

Focus is a buzz word that gets thrown around a wild amount in today’s world.

When asked what got them to the level of success they achieved to this day, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, both summarized it in one word…”Focus.”

So what the hell does it mean?

Is it undistracted work day-in and day-out? Is it not making time for friends or family? Is it never giving time to your hobbies? Maybe never making it to a happy hour??

To me, focus is more simple than this.

It’s knowing when and how to say, “No.”

It’s receiving data and information, processing it, and understanding if this action will push you closer or further away from your goals.

It’s as simple as that.

When I was in my peak training in college, I made every single decision based on how it would affect my body and performance.

And I mean everything down to the foods I ate, how I slept, my plans on a Friday night, who I spent time with, how much water I drank, the things I watched, the things I read, the music I listened to, everything.

I believe it all had an effect on my body and my performance and I wanted to understand what worked and what didn’t work. I wanted to understand how to most optimally say, “No.”

The result, I hit some of my biggest goals I set for myself. Sure, other areas of my life may have suffered, but I was willing to make that sacrifice to scratch those goals off of my board and experience that sweet taste of pure joy when you finally attain success. It’s like no other feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.

We can take this into every area of our lives. How do you become a high performer in your job? Make it the main thing. Perform, perform, perform. Go above and beyond expectations and learn to say, “No” to the things that push you no closer to your goals.

How do we do this with our health? Focus on the foods you should eat or the drinks you should drink and say, “No” to what will, ultimately, pull you back. Or maybe someone wants you to skip the gym and take a night out. You will have to decipher which will give you the upper hand to achieving your goals.

Finances? Just ask, “Can you really afford that new phone? Do I really need to take this vacation? Why am I buying this new car?”

It’s all applicable. If we prioritize the areas of our life that need the most attention, we will, over time, understand what actions are beneficial and which are detrimental. The skill to gather information quick and make a decision for yourself will become sharper and sharper.

And maybe some of these areas aren’t even important to you. Maybe your goals are in a completely different facet of life. But the important thing is to always ask, “How is this pushing me closer to MY goals?” No one else’s goals. Because this is YOUR life. No action is inherently right or wrong. The only question you need for yourself is, “Is this pushing me closer to my goals?”

As my life changes, I’m constantly refining this skill. How can I apply these lessons I’ve learned in athletics to the business world or my relationships or to my personal brand? Where does this focus need to go? How should I conduct myself on a daily basis to become the high performer in all these areas I claim to be?

It’s a journey I’m excited for. And I can’t wait to bring you along for the ride. Yes, some areas of my life may suffer, but if achieving MY goals is what really matters, I will find a way to direct every ounce of my focus to crossing those goals off my board. I promise. And if an action doesn’t push me closer to it, as always, it’s time to say, “No.”