What Keeps Me Focused

There are many variables that come into play within the equation of being focused and happy with your work. From the micro-level to the macro, we all have to figure out what they are and put them into play if we ever want to build something great. For me, I always focus on the over arching principals or the 3 big main ideas that keep me grounded whenever I lose momentum or face doubtful challenges. These principals keep me centered and calibrate my mental and emotional state so I keep pushing forward.

1. My “Why”

Simon Sinek introduced me to this principal and it has stuck with me ever since. Asking my “Why” – Why I do what I do – the purpose – the reason and cause, allows me to center myslef around something bigger than myself and that’s unwavering and constant to any external circumstance making my “why” always true (if that makes sense). Sometimes I get too caught up in the little things that just don’t matter. Maybe a client turns me down, or there’s project that doesnt go well, whatever it may be, I don’t allow myself to get fully 100% caught up in the little things, little as in it has low to no effect to the over all mission of my work because at that point, I don’t fight to resolve the problem, but I fight for my “why” and for the purpose.

2. Gratitude

The amount of gratitude I posses and the amount I obtain every day re-calibrates my brain of what I should be worked up about emotionally. Again. back to the “Why”, having gratitude allows me to not invest emotionally on the dumb shi!t that doesn’t matter in the long term scheme things. Right off the bat, I live in the best era of human history that provides the best opportunity to build something – the 21st century. Next, I was born and raised in America, where capitalism and meritocracy is the space to play the game. I believe I live in a time and place with equal opportunity so all that there is is to put in the work and that if someone that looked me who’s made it then I can do. The health and well being of myself and family and a few other tragic scenarios are the only situations that I allow to fully check me out.

3. Optimism

Optimism with practicality is the sweet spot. This mix keeps me on the feet of what’s to come and what’s possible and allows me to keep going because of somethign to look forward to. Remember that it’s a mix. I can be optimistic about being an NBA player but it’s just not practical. No way in hell will that ever pan out for me. Its not a limited belief its just reality. Being practical is’nt about setting your goals low, to me its a tactic. If I set low expectations but have high goals, I get pumped every-time I reach pass my expectations and when I get pumped i get fueld to tackle the next thing. In a way, I hack my brain with optimism and practicality.

These were a bit hard to explain, but I hope some value can be extracted to serve what ever you want to build.