Whether it is the canvas of our life, our professional career, a challenge that we need to overcome, or an extremely simple task that we need to perform, choosing the right focal point can make all the difference. This applies in equal measure to what we do in the outside world, the family, or just in finding a deeper meaning of our existence.
But how does anyone unleash the power of focus?
The clarity of outcome desired is often directly proportional to the sharpness of focus. It also raises many relevant questions. Does one have the skills and competencies to get there? Does one need to acquire them by education or through strategic alliances, or a combination of both? Does one possess the resources, the knowledge to reach there?
For that, each of us needs to identify that one specific thing without which our success is not ensured. It could be knowledge, resources, the right team, the skills or anything else. When we begin, there are always many things crying for our attention, but if we keep our gaze on the end goal and the journey, the real challenges soon start to float up. The ability to crack our biggest challenge is what unleashes enormous energy. That is what needs our undivided attention.
About twenty years ago, an ex-boss of mine, and now a close friend, had taken up a new assignment with a company that was losing business rapidly. Employee morale was at an all time low, and many employees were seriously looking around for other opportunities. Fortunately for him, the market situation was such that too many good opportunities were not available. His job was to turn around the business. When I met him, I asked him “What is your plan? His reply was instantaneous “I need to find just one or two right persons, persons of character, commitment and integrity to partner with me and be committed to turn the place around. It will happen.” And that is exactly what happened. I firmly believe in the same philosophy.
More than a decade later, when I was heading another large organization as their number two person, this friend of mine and I met over a coffee. And he asked me what my direction was. My reply was equally prompt “The one thing to always keep in mind is to find two of the most important things that will bring the change desired, and go for them. If the list is longer, there may be one too many.”
Knowing where and how to begin is only half the story. The final outcome, depending on the task, can take from a few days to a lifetime. The attainment of a goal can be ensured only if we stay the course and continue to move ahead. Managing failures, surmounting challenges, enjoying the tailwind, enduring the headwind will all be par for the course, using a Golfer’s jargon. Maintaining and managing focus is an everyday exercise and becomes second nature if we master the art.
There can be two potential approaches, which apply not only to the world of business and making money, but for any area of our existence where we wish to evolve.
In one approach, we visualise the outcome, find the most important challenge or the place from where we can work up the most effective momentum and then concentrate our energies on that. As we succeed, the path begins to open up.
Beautifully written sir, Looking forward to reading more of your writing.
This article is pure gold. I have followed the same mantra in my career as CEO of several MNCs. Even in motorcycling (I have been riding Superbikes for 22 years now), while negotiating a curve at a high speed, the focal point for the eyes must always be the exit point of the curve.. Muscle memory does the physical job of guiding the handlebar. If the focal point is the wall or the road divider, a terrible crash is almost always inevitable.
Singular focus is everything in life and in management.