NOTE: I have asked my Dad to write a post about something that I think he has done well in life. That is, the ability to give 100% to everything your doing when your doing it. Hope you enjoy…Also check out his blog
My son has very graciously asked me to write a guest blog for all of you. I had been talking with him about how important it is to give 100% to whatever you are doing at the time, almost to the exclusion of anything else. And how you can give that 100% for a short time and quickly change directions and focus.
I remember a great story someone told me about being in the moment. Being present wherever you are. Actually I don’t remember the whole story but the conclusion, or moral is what’s important. It summed up saying that somewhere, there is a man, sitting at work, wishing he was fishing with his son, and somewhere else, there is a man fishing with his son, whose thinking about what he needs to get done at work.
There is no value in either instance. To the man at work, his work is suffering for his daydreaming of being with his son. His son is not benefiting either as he is not with his son. To the man fishing with his son, his distraction of work is not getting the work done, and his son is suffering from the neglect of his dad not being completely there.
It is imperative that we give all of who we are to whatever endeavor we are working on. That we focus completely on what we are doing and do it great. Than go and do whatever else needs to be done.
Sometimes I have a hard time staying focused on the task at hand. Rather than beating myself up or wasting more time pondering why I am not doing what I should be, I will just stop and do something else. Every one of us has a million things that need to be done. It is much more important that we focus on what we can do right now rather than working on something we are not focused on.
Rarely is this a situation where you are being neglectful or is it anything that cannot wait a little while. And how much better will it be when you return to your task fully committed and focused. And in the instances where your full attention is demanded, life and death, emergency type situations, I don’t know anyone that has trouble focusing and doing the best they can. It may not be enough or what you hoped you were capable of, but it will be the best you can.
As you go through your day, keep a list of things you want to get done. If you struggle with one, move onto something else. If you are making dinner, or paying the bills and you can’t seem to focus because you haven’t exercised for the day, stop, go do it. Then come back and pick up where you left off. You will be more focused and committed to success in both tasks for dealing with your distraction.
Ken Kendall
