Animals, in order to survive, have developed their ability to expand their attention. For animals, staying too long in one space spells death if they are prey and a lost meal if they are predator. Animals survival depends on their ability to constantly spread their attention.
I see this everyday that my gaze meets our grandpup, Tank. He was abused as a pup, so he more resembles a wild dog than a typical safe, secure, domesticated one. His eyes constantly shift from one place to another as his experience has taught him to be vigilant in spreading his attention. His eyes dart from target to target. In the wild, his survival depends on it. Humans, in order to survive, have developed the ability to focus their attention.
Focus.
We could not outrun or outmuscle our early predators and we still can’t. We could, however, out-think them. We could gaze out across the open meadow and deepen our focus. We could become a domain specific expert on a patch of land and almost intuitively notice the most subtle of changes. We could also study, learn, and apply what made our predators so effective as hunters and slowly, over time and through lots of experiments and adversity, we could fashion tools, weapons, and early warning systems that exceeded the tencil strength of any talon. Humans have historically survived because of deep focus that leads to mastery. Mastery that tames the wild and gives us the gift of time…
Here’s the modern problem, however, that I see every day. In the world of work where most humans are fighting for survival, their attention is like Tanks with a bit of twist. Modern mans attention is darting AND distracted. People are running from one meeting to another, always late, and with a good excuse for being so. People act as if we’ve evolved in reverse and somehow lost the gift of time and instead become slaves to it. Instead of slowing down and studying, learning, and applying, modern man chooses to just get busier. One more meeting oughta do it.
Your brain is your greatest asset. Focus it. Build domain specific knowledge in your craft. Master it.
This takes practice, practice, and more practice. This takes at least 10,000 hours of practice led by someone that knows what they’re doing, what you’re doing, what you’re capable of doing, and someone who knows exactly what specific and concrete action will cause you to build capacity. In other words, a world class builder beside you. Good luck building mastery on your own.
Together we improve, not so much alone…
And, remember, you are not practicing when you’re darting to and fro and enslaved by your schedule. You are not practicing when you simply show up at practice either. You are not practicing until you are deeply focused with your attention. You are not in too many meetings. You are not stuck in a situation beyond your control. You are a master in the making. Again, the modern problem pops it’s ugly head. We are becoming a bunch of masters of distraction. Masters of twitter,facebook,instagram, and meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. Masters of distraction.
Your mind wants you to focus it, master it, and turn it toward your masterpiece. You are made for mastery. Your market expects you to master your craft. In the ever changing landscape that is your industry, who knows, your survival might just depend on it…
BUILT TO LEAD 