I recently came upon this post from Executive Coach, Wilson Luna which I thought was a great reflection given we are now well into the New Year. As we are all starting to head back to work and create routine etc – I think it is a great reminder to consider what we are really focusing on and how mindful and present we are with respect to our focused attention.
In a world bustling with distractions and competing priorities, the essence of this ancient adage resonates profoundly.
Image from Imagine Values
What I also found to be great were the comments and reflections from this post
Consider these reflections
1) There’s a dialect in China “You’ll become a drowning dog if you try to stand on two boats at the same time”.
The most recent examples:
🙈When I try to set boundaries but wanted to please staff at the same time.
🙈Holding high standards for the level of medical care but wanting validation at the same time
🙈Wanting to offer a compassionate and supportive service but gossiping about clients when squeezed
🙈Wanting to act with integrity but losing my shit and behaving like an angry child when squeezed…
Having the courage to be disliked; being respected is way more important than being validated. By the end of the day, the external validation is so unpredictable, I need to focus on building internal reputation when going through the challenges.
And if I lose staff — not the end of the world. The staff who left will clear spaces for better staff down the line — as long as I keep improving myself.
2) We can have it all, just not at the same time. So decide, commit & focus on one goal at a time. Be mindful of distractions, especially those of a shiny nature.
3) Focus and attention is key ! 🔑
One inch wide, one mile deep mentality and having Laser focused attention on a project, results mastering the nuances !
You go further with snipper focus and attention than having divided attention.
4) Jumping from one thing, to the next thing, to the next thing
Without accomplishing anything
Like chasing rabbits 😅
Focus on one thing at a time
Be present, deeply focused and do nothing else
1 rabbit at a time
Hour after hour
Day after day
5) Keep it SIMPLE as chasing one rabbit (not two…. Let alone three, four or more). The fact that this is an ancient adage gets me. Even though we think of modern life as having huge distractions (and there are!) this says to me that the need for FOCUS and SIMPLICITY has been there for centuries because the human mind likes to complicate. Use willpower and don’t let it override focussed attention.
6) I look at this in two ways;
1. Rabbits are a distractions taking you away from your purpose, your vision, your goal. If you focus on the rabbits it will be harder, take longer, use more effort and be inefficient if you even manage to get to the end state you are striving for, and
2. Rabbits being goals, decide which one is your highest priority and focus on that one, using your all to get to the next step in that journey to reach the desired outcome. If you focus on two, it reminds me of the saying, Jack of all trades, master of none’.
7) Focusing on the most important thing for me is a priority. Distracting self with unimportant stuff takes me away from that which I know is important.
8) Choose one thing, one task, one niche, one anything - go inch wide, mile deep and double down on that. Our efforts are diluted if we choose to distract and hedge our bets. If anything, it puts us in more fight or flight chasing two things we cannot handle.
Focus and attention is the name of the game.
9) If you focus on two things at the same time you don’t focus properly you are dividing your proper focus . Keep to one project at a time to get the best results
What are your thoughts? How could you stop chasing rabbits in 2024?
Want to enhance your focus, attention and goal setting? Get in contact with Michelle Bakjac via email at michelle@bakjacconsulting.com to enquire about counselling, coaching and training to develop your key skills.
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ Plus accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals, teams and organisations to develop and improve performance, leadership, behaviour, resilience and wellbeing. You can find her at www.bakjacconsulting.com
