Successful businesspeople do not get distracted from the goal. This article illustrates how concentration can lead to success.
Climb the Stairs
Shout-out to the fun-uncles out there. In my family, I proudly hold that title and with a growing number of nieces and nephews I am occasionally reminded of moments from my own childhood. One that surfaced recently was from when I was four or five and my younger brother was learning to crawl.
One time he crawled toward the stairs with zero hesitation and a clear objective. Get to the top. One step, then another. If nothing interrupted him, he would make it. You could see the confidence build with each step. When he reached the landing, his face told the whole story of achievement, pride and pure joy.
The fragile part was how easily that could have changed. A noise in the room, a shout of his name, or someone stepping in yelling “help he’s on the stairs!” and suddenly the focus would break. He would turn, wobble, and almost fall.
It wasn’t the stairs that created the danger. It was an interruption.
Stay on the Path
Years ago, I heard of a philosophy called “the innocence of a child.” Sadly, I don’t recall the name of the presenter.
I’ve seen it play out in business and leadership more times than I can count. The best leaders have a version of their younger self in them. They start the climb without overthinking it, but the difference is that they have learned to listen to the equivalent of “mom and dad” BEFORE they take the first step.
Advice, warnings, and experience get baked into the plan before the action begins. Then, once they commit, they focus.
They don’t chase every shiny object that bounces in front of them. They do not lose balance because someone yelled in the other room. They keep moving until the objective is reached. Simon Sinek describes this idea well with his simple line: “Stay on the path”.
The entrepreneurs and CEOs who stand out are the ones who combine that childhood innocence with the experiences of their life so far, and the wisdom of the people around them, BEFORE they start the task.
They have learned the skill of concentrating on a single initiative for as long as it takes, without letting the outside noise derail them.
A Jack of all Trades is a Master of None
That discipline is what separates the good from the great. For some it comes naturally. Others learn it over time through trial and error, techniques, and the right people around them. Some need a team. Some need a coach. Either way, it becomes a skill the great ones master.
The key starts with being honest with yourself about how you currently operate.
Are you doing five to eight things well, but not great? And if so, how strong could you be if your energy and attention were pointed at one or two initiatives that truly mattered, and you were able to stay on the path?
There is a kind of magic that can show up in your life and business when you tap back into the innocence of a child.
If you need help finding your inner child, reach out to us.
