The importance of focus

The importance of focus

Jimmy Johnson was the coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 1993, before the Super Bowl that year he gave them the following motivational talk before prior to the game.

He told them that if he laid a two-meter-long plank on the floor, everyone there would be able to walk across it and not fall because the focus would be on crossing the plank.

But, he went on to say that if the same two-meter plank was placed 10 stories high between two buildings, only a few would make it because the focus would not be on falling.

Focus is everything.

He told his team “The team that is more focused today is the team that will win the game”

Jimmy went on to tell his team not to become distracted by the crowd, or by the media, and especially not the possibility of losing. But to focus on each play of the game itself, just as if it was a good practice session.

The cowboys won the game 52-17

Focus is everything. Once it is clear in our minds what we want to achieve, then planned work is the next step on the path. This planned work inspires the energy of purpose. Without it, we simply suffer from “intention deficit disorder”. We are short on intention, we don’t know where we are going, or what we are up to.

With a definite sense of purpose behind your work, it is clear what you are looking to achieve, if you have this it is impossible to be depressed at the same time.

Imagine there are two lawyers in a courtroom, that courtroom is situated in your mind. One is there arguing for your possibilities and achieving your goals, whilst the other is arguing for your limits and why you don’t deserve what you want. Who will win? The lawyer whom you pay the most. But how do you pay these lawyers? What is the currency of your mind? - Simple you pay them with your attention.