Focus on Success

In a world of distraction, getting the job done successfully can be hard. It's time to create focus.
Eric Boles shares what he learned about focus on the NFL field that translates to the leadership and business worlds. Learn the tactics to create laser-like focus to be your best in life and work.

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[0:00] What helped me was I learned this is name was Marty and I never forget when he emphasized that he would just say catch the 10:00.

[0:07] Now the reason he say catch the tip of the football is the work that it takes to.
Find the tip even as I'm running and looking for the tip that extra drive that extra Focus laser focus.

[0:24] Cause me to concentrate so hard all the other distractions went away unleashing your best in life and work.
This is the game changers with Eric Bowles and host Dale Dixon the focus.
Focus in unleashing your best in life and work this is the game changers podcast with.
Boles I'm Dale Dixon I help Executives communicate clear messages Eric coaches trains and inspires leaders to unleash their potential and the potential of those around them are great to be with you again today.
Always great deal so focus and I was just brushing up on your approach in the book
you in this line feelings follow Focus which got me thinking we could probably go in a few different directions with this conversation and who knows it might be even a couple of podcast episodes but I think about
as I first started thinking about our conversation today I thought
the difficulty that we have maintaining focus with all of the distractions in our world and then when you think about feelings follow Focus which is a.
Great thing we need to dissect.
Hopefully today that is you know where am I going what's my attitude and am I really looking at the right things in life and there are definitely a variety of intersections in that.

[1:49] You see we can go a couple of different directions with this so you're the content expert.
Where should we go with Focus well first of all I'm glad you grab that line I think when you when we have the conversation of focus there's the
component about Focus for it's just a definition right what is focus so when people talk about what his focus is you can almost be broken up into ways Focus has two parts
first of all
let me change that focus is a discipline it doesn't come naturally right so now people hear that and say so so we don't Focus naturally let me.
There's a caveat even that know our brains work hard.

[2:31] To determine what not to pay attention to right so so if you think about it that way that is kind of what Focus does it allows you to lock onto something and then ignore everything else.
The challenges when you have to focus on something that doesn't necessarily line up with your
comfort zone that might be out of your normal that kind of pulls your brain or your mind out of of you know you get into that place where
tension anxiety kicks in it's usually focusing on something
different like even if it's from a performance standpoint or whatever and anytime that happens your focus.

[3:13] Drives you know you lock onto something and then feelings follow this is why and I love that phrase but this is why I say often you know you can be sitting down in the same spot for an hour.

[3:28] And you could have you could have been sitting there on a complete emotional rollercoaster.

[3:33] But if you were to look at that objectively you've been sitting in the same spot for an hour like what actually happened in that hour that had your feelings all over the place well the real question isn't what do you feel the real question is what is your mind on
because wherever your mind is feelings follow that.
The problem with a lot of us is we actually believe that fillings lead and focus Falls no because I feel this then it must be no I'm I feel this so what am I thinking about and bigger more than that is how am I thinking about.
Because feelings don't mean his true right feelings just mean that's how I'm seeing it and so one of the things when I talk about Focus
I like to talk about focus in a way that is practical and we can use in and apply it in for leaders they have to understand how powerful focus is now I use a thinking the in the book I use a example
for myself.

[4:32] Of playing football and he like literally standing at the line of scrimmage before play saying to myself don't drop the ball don't drop the ball don't drop the ball well.

[4:45] Think about it this way first of all our grains it brings do not work by words they work in pictures so the what matters most is what.
Picture is created with those words so when I say don't drop the ball you know the I can ask you what do you see.
Hi strobus a mall dropped exactly exactly in the reason is I tell the groups all over the world people have heard this before but it's accurate,
the word don't has no picture associated with it but drop the ball does.
So in that very moment my focus is on dropping the ball now you would think my focus is on not failing my focus is on catching the ball know if I want to focus on catching ball I need to say catch the ball.
Because what gets pictured is what gets done what we don't always understand is the minute I said don't drop the ball the pitcher of dropping a ball came to my mind,
that's not the problem.
The problem is the feelings that associate themselves with that picture so I am literally experiencing I use that word too much literally but but I am actually experiencing.
The feelings of failure before the actual failure has taken place.
And I have just instead of increased the probability of success I.

[6:07] I've actually increase the probability of a success I don't want C we keep thinking that you know when I drop the ball all that I wasn't successful know when I dropped the ball
according to how my brain works I accomplished my goal because that's what I was saying the whole time
don't drop the ball is another way of saying drop the ball so guess what my focus was so good that I went off to accomplish my goal and so.
So when as I share this with leaders when they get a chance to understand how powerful this is they start realizing man we create.
You know we don't do a really good job of helping people focus on what it is we want to have happen versus what we want to avoid in this is why I say often the difference between High performers and Local 4.
Is basically High performers can focus on what they want to have happen.

[7:03] We're low performer spend more time focus on what they don't want to have happen and when I focus on what I want to happen.
Also the feelings of success the feelings of excitement the feelings that go along with that success follow.
But when I spend time thinking about what I want to avoid the feelings of that.
Also follow and so that's why when people talk about focus is it positive is negative I said it's neutral it's just based on how you use it.

[7:33] That is so good I think about I like to ride adventure motorcycle so they're these hybrid dirt bikes to go on the road and go on dirt and also there's these there's this.
Very it's a rule of the road that if you focus on a rock in the road you will hit it.
And in my head.
You know I know it's happened to me and you can just look at YouTube to see the number of motorcycles that go off cliffs he likes to go off cliffs because the idea is you're writing on that trail and and
you've just connected all these dots for me
I'm looking at the Rock saying don't hit the rock don't hit the rock there's no visualization for don't so all my brain is saying is hit the rock hit the rock I have this very negative feeling knowing what hitting the rock will feel like as I.
Crash the motorcycle and then.
And it is its and then then you have a whole issue of confidence and everything else that plays into it and trying to bounce back.
Dale the power of our like.
We don't either to build confidence or negate confidence you don't need actual experiences for.

[8:46] Synthetic experiences work because the feelings are so powerful that's the difference between our human mind our human brain and like for instance if you were to compare our grain to
to a GPS right or you can plant could compare our brain to hate to use this term but it just makes sense
heat-seeking missile right and the reality is between the GPS
he seeking missile anything that has a teleological nature to it which means you know it has a goal and it course corrects as it goes after his goal right that our brain works similarly right now the only difference though
is
When a GPS is going out like you put it in your car and you're going to her it only uses objective real-time data to get to his location.
Right like so however it does he use real-time data adjusting everything but the one thing about humans which is different.

[9:47] Is we don't only but we don't only use real-time data that kind of helps us get to our destination from a focused and.
We also include historical data that many times has emotion tied to it so not only am I saying you know don't drop the ball but every single time in the past that I failed
all the emotion from that also shows up in the moment so when you said you know hey it's not only that don't that don't hit the rock.
You've experienced what wrecking is or imagine what raking is or I've seen 8 million examples on YouTube of what that looks like if I place my focus in the wrong spot.

[10:27] Oh that wheat comes at me at the same time so I'm not only performing the moment I'm also having to overcome
all that historical baggage that comes along with it do you really think a field goal kicker who's in the NFL
can't make that feel Bill do you really think of a guy at the free-throw line was shot a million free throws in that moment
you cannot shoot a free throw know what he's fighting against is not formed what he's not what he's with their kickers fighting again is not only the wind's blowing real hard what they're fighting against is keeping the thought of failure out of their mind because when it's in there it offsets all the competency
all the skill all the hard work that going through it so it's not enough bike people ask me all the time is like well here you just got to practice more
awesome and you can practice forever but if you don't understand how powerful this is you know you actually have to get your mind the
the lack of confidence of the power of this brain can diminish your competency like nothing else
nothing else can do it like that and you start doing weird stuff but the probability like when you said don't hit the rock think about this way Bill I know I get a little fired up about it but.
For those out there who are golfers.

[11:45] If you find yourself not behind the tree but it's might be one single Branch okay if you're honest.

[11:55] You couldn't hit that bridge if you tried like you're the reason you probably behind the tree is because you don't hit straight and so now here's finally chance I can hit over here
and there's only one little branch that I have to avoid
the probability that if I could ever hit that branch on purpose is almost nothing but the very minute entry it becomes my greatest fear right like don't get this Branch don't eat this Branch all don't eat it.
And that little ball hits that little branch and knocks the ball straight down you like I can't typically I can't even hit the ball in the air and in that moment I not only did I hit are not only did I hear but it hit the branch and King straight down.
The probability of that.
Is so low Until you realize the power of focus works both directions so it shows you that hey my ability to focus even overcame.
My lack of Competency or skill because that was probably the best swing I put on the whole day because of what I was trying to avoid your
you're completely debunking Murphy's Law is the way I am.

[13:12] You just turned a law into a theory and then debunks the theory so.

[13:21] Because this is this is so any example in life you know you start applying these principles and you see it take place after we start focusing on the negative hitting the branch hitting the Rock.
Not you know.

[13:38] Dropping the football when we start focusing on that by the way we tell the story leading up to we create.

[13:48] We create the atmosphere for those things to happen in our brain.
So that's right so let's dissect let's dissect this down you can go back to the beginning and and I love the example that you give in the book because you go much more laser focused than
the opposite of don't drop the football it is focus on the tip.
Yes the football so let's let's dissect okay how do we start to number one recognize that we're really telling ourselves don't do something which leads to us doing it and then change that language so that we're.

[14:26] Doing the inverse and focusing on what true success needs to look like okay so this connects all these things line up connected back to clarity
so the reason focus is so important but Focus follows establishing Clarity in the first place so remember what Clarity is what why how flexible on that benefits.

[14:47] Cost of an action but skip all that goes deal with first of all
what is it we want to focus on and what do we want not what do we want to avoid that is a big question so when you're as a individual
you know what do I want what I want is I want to catch the ball what I want is I want to make a play what I want if you're using the football exactly what don't you want I don't want to fail we don't want to lose I don't want to drop the ball okay that's fine.

[15:12] That's not what we need to place our focus our focus on is on wonder now if I just say my goal is to catch the ball
my goal is to catch the ball duh everybody but that goes still pretty vague as much as people think that is clear
it's not it whatever thing I'm focusing on it has to be so significant that it requires my
effort to place my focus there and the reason is we're leveraging cognitive dissonance we're leveraging that to our benefit cognitive that
this one is simply means I can't have two conflicting thoughts going on at the same time I can't I can't fear dropping wall and also want to succeed at that they are not happening at the same time so the question is what thought is
and so when I in the example I give when I was standing okay don't talk to okay catch the ball catch the ball kids but that's still
too broad and so what helped me was I learned this obviously the great ones from the great Jerry Rice's of the world and the other but there was this one particular receiver who helped me a lot as well his name was Marty and I never forget when he emphasized that he would just say
catch the tip now the reason he was a catch the tip of the football is.

[16:23] The work that it takes to find the tip even as I'm running and looking for the tip that extra.
Drive that extra Focus laser focus it caused me to concentrate so hard all the other distractions went away so as I'm trying to see the tip I'm working to see the tip
concerns about dropping a ball concerns about who's covering me concerns about all those things that seem logical artist
they start falling off the noise of the crowd the moment there's nothing like being a wide receiver in the balls in the air forever and you're waiting for it to come down but the minute I can find the tip of the football.
All of a sudden not only did the tip of the football grow but the whole size of the football groups so in that moment my whole focus is just on catching the tip.
Now here's what they I catch the tip plays made all the benefits that come from catching a football I'm going to steal experience but in the moment nothing else matters it almost allows me to lose myself in the flow.
Of the game and follow the moment well this is what I challenge leaders individual what's the tip of the football for you.

[17:32] So you know in everyday I'm in this meeting I mean we have this appointment I'm in a
sales call with a particular client I'm in a coaching call with a particular situation I'm performance manager what's the tip of the football if you don't find the tip of the football than is easy be distracted by
everything else that's going around so this is a when I say focus is a skill
it is a skill the first thing about focus is knowing where that my focus should go in the second principal focus is then bringing all my effort and concentration to bear on the very thing I just said is the most imperative
the second part is where most people struggle they agree that this is the most important thing but then they don't turn around and bring all their concentration and effort to bear on what they just identified as the most important thing.
If you don't bring your energy and concentration to that all you did was a priority session but you did not actually deal with the issue which is distractions and in order to lock onto your goal.
That's what I was going to say so you're talking about distraction and I think in this day and age especially with where what we have seen.

[18:44] With the phone with
working from home now and variety of places in the number of people who are working in coffee shops distraction is off the charts between the
dings and the alert on my computer my phone my dad I mean everything about it there is life screams distraction at us when it comes to focus so what are some of the things that tools that you're using.

[19:11] To avoid the distractions or temper the.
Well first of all again I go to the principle it is same thing in true in baseball the same true and businesses train you know we call it even if we were there for you and I even stretched it too
even economics you know we're talking about the 80/20 rule we're talking about an 80/20 rule the Pareto Principle is what's the 20% that makes the 80% difference right,
and it's not about 80/20 is much as it is an understanding that a small number.

[19:46] Of inputs lead to significant amount of output.
That means if I can concentrate even smaller on the few things that make the biggest difference that's the game changer and so when I
catch the tip of the football the benefits of me catching that tip that small thing I always say if I can if I can see small I can get it all so if I can catch the small tip of the football not only do I catch the ball
but all the benefits that come from Catching the ball follow
so I don't worry about all that I'm aware of it but I really got to concentrate to the on the little thing that makes the difference this is how we do every day so like in the morning what's the small thing
that allows me to get the majority of things.
That's where I place my focus within and the middle of the day the same question so many people think you know I got to prioritize it is but prioritizing it takes some courage
it's me identifying the things that I know are the high leverage that make the most significant impact and then that's where all my energy and concentration goes.

[20:51] The challenge is saying no to everything else because some of the things that are distractions
I'm not problems they're actually good ideas their stuff you would prefer to do their normal things that go on every day but the question is do they.
Propel you or do they hinder you in a moment so even all that other stuff is important hey Eric you got to run your route I know that you got a block I know that you got to all that stuff is important.
But catching the tip of the football in this situation is imperative
okay and so is the difference between separating not what's important from what's urgent not so much unimportant the moment it's actually is even a little more complicated I gotta understand what's imperative
in an environment of where everything's really important that I believe that's where we find ourselves and so if we can start.
Recognizing how many things just do not allow us to concentrate.
That's what we got to get rid of no matter what anybody says it's almost training when things I do with several leaders of mine I said stop apologizing.
For
for getting to your emails at a certain by a man you this is internal training like to discipline focus is a discipline is to training so guess what I'm not going to check my emails till noon.

[22:11] Oh do you know the price you pay when you're first trying that there's a high probability that someone reached out to you and you didn't get back to you and sometimes those are that's part of the cost the return you get from doing this is greater than that
temporary pain you may go through and do it you just got to be willing to pay that paint because that's the price you're going to pay like the feeling of not being in on things the funeral
but the benefit you get from the focus you give at that moment.
Is invaluable they did it they did a study Dale they showed most managers or leaders spend less than seven minutes of thought time on anything.

[22:48] Think about that seven uninterrupted minutes it takes 15 they say take 15 to 30 minutes to really get into that next level flow and then once you're there and the minute you get interrupted.
You start all over again
like it takes you another 15 to 20 minutes to get back to where you were from a concentration level before and what are the odds you're going to get uninterrupted and for the next 15-20 minutes real low and so I tell leaders.
I'm not ask you do this in the middle of the day but you gotta set some appointments for yourself some meetings just for you to practice concentration.
Because you're in the position because of your ability to.

[23:24] You're not in your that position because of your ability just to do a get a whole lot of things done that you're getting done at a mediocre level you're actually getting things done through others so you got to spend some thought time before you start doing activity
that makes some sense absolutely I want to go back to this idea that tip of the football.
And because every situation is different what are some clarifying questions that I can ask myself to start.
Honing in on what the tip of the football is for me gotcha speaking figuratively yep
yeah so there's a couple one as I love what you asked in every situation you know first of all what do I believe as looking at this not only what I believe but what I'm picking up from the group of what I believe
matters most in this or any when I say what does matters most because when one is I can determine what matters most then I can keep working backwards from that working backwards to what part of this can I influence what part of this can impact
in it were can really make a difference
and and that's how we worked back to the tip of the football of every situation because if the tip of the football is something you can't directly impact.

[24:35] That's still a distraction as well right because it's so it's not an issue of oh what's most important let me do that know sometimes that's not for you to do.

[24:43] So what part do you play sometimes there's some situations our job is just to be you know moral support rate like way to go right but in terms of finding a tip you're always asking yourself what matters most what do I believe is the future is the one thing or the two things
that have the most significant impact on the outcome that I can influence okay I do that even in my home
bright like okay what are the one or two things that I can do that I know makes the most significant difference that make sure I'm doing that and not just spending time getting in everybody's else's way
Point number two that goes along with this we have to ask ourselves like we did earlier
what's the cost of inaction that also can sometimes remind us of what is most critical not only do we want to gain but what can we avoid by doing this properly so it doesn't mean that we're not I am not thinking about oh don't drop the ball football but I do think about
by catching a football it does help us avoid losing the game.

[25:44] But catching the football it does help us avoid you know having the punt so I'm aware of the consequences if I don't execute
I just don't bring those consequences into the moment of execution because my focus needs to be on the tip of the football if that makes sense so
all of those things are conversations and thoughts I have
that really helped me focus on the small thing I need to execute on to ensure we get the benefits and we avoid the consequences.

[26:13] Hopefully I make some good sense absolutely absolutely so we need to remember that feelings follow Focus,
there is this cognitive dissonance issue that we are working with that our brains can.

[26:27] Cannot justify the idea of dropping a football and catching a football so we've got to focus on what we really want to do which is catch the football and the.
Be specific in what you are focusing on all the way to the tip of it all.
Your specific situation so this is incredibly helpful.
You had some today yeah I was just going to say this as a leader as individual keep this in mind.
Most of our goals most time we don't reach our goals it's because of broken Focus.
Right it's not because the talent not because the confidence so specificity leads to the answer specificity gets us to the tip of the football.
Generalities lead to more questions so that's why it's so important we be as specific and clear as possible as small as we can
because our brain wants to have something to truly concentrate on in the harder he has to work the constant rate the better.

[27:29] That is fantastic thank you so much for that and giving us something to work on for the rest of the week if you want to dive into that topic more or other topics.
Moving to Great Is there.
Boles coaches trains and inspires leaders to unleash their potential and the potential of those around them you can learn more.
Eric what he offers your company at the game changers.

[27:54] While your fingers are on the keyboard of either your computer your phone wherever you're listening to this if you would write a rating leave a rating hopefully a.
And a review of this podcast whether you're watching or listening.

[28:08] Big help we would really appreciate it and be sure to share this podcast with somebody that you care about.

[28:18] Especially around this concept of focus this is the game changers podcast unleashing your best in life.

[28:28] The game changers unleashing your best in life and work with Eric Bowles and Dale Dixon.
Eric is an executive coach leadership expert change consultant and keynote speaker.
Read his book Moving to great and find him at Eric volts.com connect with Dale at Dale Dixon media.com.

[28:46] Music.