We've talked a lot about focus, and today I'd like to explore what drives our ability to focus — and in turn, motivates us to develop this skill effectively.
There is an essential connection between focus and what matters.
In a fascinating book called The Rise of Superman, Steven Kotler explores "the mystery of ultimate human performance." In a nutshell, it shows us that when extreme athletes NEED to succeed to survive, their abilities will rise to the challenge.
Things like staying alive — or keeping your passengers alive — are critical, and that's why high-stakes experiences and practices lead to a highly developed ability to focus.
Something interesting happens at the other end of the spectrum, too: Last night, I was at a bar for trivia. The question was "Who played MJ in the Spider-Man movies in the early 2000s?" I could see her in my mind, but I couldn't think of her name — which, of course, is Kirsten Dunst. I was a little annoyed — it was right there on the tip of my tongue! — but at the same time, I knew that at the end of the day, it didn't really matter how we did at trivia. (Sorry, Sporcle!)
Somewhere in the middle (between casual trivia and life-or-death tasks) is soccer. I love the fact that it's all about strategy, teamwork, and clear goals (ha!), and that's enough to narrow my focus down to the game itself — which is a refreshing mental shift. And while I definitely care about the game in the moment, I'm also able to "close that tab" in my mind afterwards, and know that while I'll carry the benefits of the workout and the flow state with me when I leave the field, I won't lose sleep about that shot that went over the crossbar.
Reflecting on that, I think it's important to be intentional and curious about what matters to you. As a result, you'll gain an ability to compartmentalize, focus, and emotionally invest in everything you do — in just the right amounts. It's good to care about trivia, but it shouldn't keep you up at night.
When we were developing The Ethos Tour for GMB6 in 2015, we started by asking people "What Matters?" This awareness helped us understand the characteristic spirit and culture of the people we were serving (that's the definition of "ethos,") and to develop our events in a way that aligned with it.
Fast-forward 10 years (!!), and as we enter 2025, it's just as important as it was then to find clarity on "What Matters," and to explore how it affects our ability to focus and perform.
