Keep Your Focus

When you're balanced on a wire

And it's a long way to the ground

You look and see that there

Is not a net to be found.

What can you do but keep on going

Straight ahead just as you've been?

What put you up there on the wire

You don't want to do again.

Don't think about the problems

Or, what will happen if you fall,

Just focus on the road ahead

And you'll defeat them all.

Focus and Squirrels

Have you ever noticed that when you really want to focus on something important, a dozen distractions seem to pop up out of nowhere?  A good friend of mine describes it as, "Oh, look, there's a squirrel!"  I know where he gets that descriptive comment; he's a dog lover and nothing can change the focus of a dog faster than the sudden appearance of a squirrel.

I like squirrels.  I also like distractions when I'm in the middle of some boring task that has lulled my mind into a semi-stupor that causes my eyes to go into auto-close mode.  There are times though, when a distraction is the last thing I need because I am in hot pursuit of some brilliant thought that is running like crazy and if I don't stay on its trail it will get away from me.

Redbone Hounds are probably my favorite dog.  They can focus about as well as any creature I have ever seen.  If one has a scent in their nose their head will be down, tail up and they will be loping along the faint trail of volatile chemicals wafting just above the surface that only they can smell.  When that happens, look out truck because they will run right in front of you without so much as looking up.  We lost one that way.  I suppose focus can have its downside.

For me, the best way to get time to focus on a problem that requires it, is to instill the discipline of no e-mail distraction, no phone distraction, door closed, "KEEP OUT" sign that creates a momentary sanctuary of self-imposed isolation.  That's hard to do in the business world.  Sometimes it is necessary, but it is something that shouldn't be abused.  I also am a firm believer in accessibility.  Being available and open to the needs of others is an extremely important aspect of being effective in the world.  There must be balance.

I know the CEO/Owner of a substantial company who is highly accessible.  He frequently answers the phone if everyone else in the office is busy.  He freely gives out his cell phone number.  He isn't much on chit-chat, but he is accessible for business; however, there are times he will close his door and tell the receptionist to hold all calls.  It usually isn't for long, but if he needs focus-time, he will do it.  Then, of course, he spends the next however-long-it-takes returning all of the calls he missed.  I have never known him to not return a call.  Those two attributes are part of his success formula.  He does occasionally "chase squirrels."  He loves airplanes and helicopters and owns a few.  If you want to get him "off subject" just bring up flying.

As in so many things, I relate my work life back to nature.  It's all about balance.  Sometimes we need to focus, but there are other times...."Look!  There's a squirrel!"

Losing Track of Time

Do you ever lose track of time?  Is there some activity that engages you so completely that you forget lunch or, supper or, even that you need to sleep?  What is that activity that engrosses you so completely you forget where you are?

For some people it is work.  I have worked with a couple of people through the years who would become fixated with solving some problem and would literally work around the clock to come up with an answer.  They were computer programmers.

I recall more than once coming into work to find them asleep with their head on their arms at their desk where they had worked all night to complete some project.  I told them to wake up and go home and get some rest.  Their behavior was driven by multiple factors including:  1) a desire to resolve a problem for a customer, 2) a desire to solve a problem simply to prove they could and 3) a focus on the problem so intent that the passage of time and bodily needs became irrelevant.

I think there are lessons for all of us in such behavior.  1)  We need to find the things about which we are passionate.  2)  We need to hone our desire to meet customer needs.  3)  We need to realize that we can overcome any obstacle if we will zero in on finding solutions.  4)  We need to learn to focus.

I'm usually pretty good with #2 and #3, but fail at #1 and #4.  How about you?  What makes you lose track of time?

Thinking Toward Progress

To sit and think
Is sometimes a luxury.
We hurry and rush
From one task to another
Without thinking about
What we are doing or why.

But I've found through the years
That a moment of silence
Reflecting on tasks I must do
Helps me to order
My work for the day
So my efforts will multiply.

It allows me to focus
On what is important
Rather than merely reacting
To whatever crisis
Rears its ugly head
As I go through the course of a day.

So instead of being pulled
Hither and yon
Jumping to the whims of others
I stay on the tasks
That are aimed at my goals
And progress along the way.