Focus

Yes, I know it is a car I drive, but that's not what I'm talking about!

Focus, motivation, discipline...Where does it come from?

I happened to have a 5 page paper due in 3 hours that I had only halfway finished due to what else, procrastination. But when the clock was winding down and the gap narrowed, I seemed to hone in on my project, as if nothing else mattered.

Why is it that in crunch time we can block out everything else... our world around us ceases to exist, and it's nothing but us in the moment. Back when I played sports I can remember being "in the zone" so much that nothing but the game would effect me. Coaches, players, the crowd could be screaming; but if it was during live play I heard nothing. The human brain is a wonderful, most mysterious thing.

I think this speaks to the drive and determination of each one of us. Inside of us something clicks; and doesn't it feel good? I think sometimes I forget what it's like to accomplish a difficult goal and have an incredible feeling of satisfaction afterwards. That paper I wrote (in a mo-fo'in hurry yesterday)...best paper I've written in about 2 years (and the longest).

I guess I love a challenge, even though I tell myself otherwise. It's like I tell myself the easy way is the way to go, but my body says make it interesting, challenge yourself. Hell, I already challenge myself in video games. I get pissed off when I blow teams out in Madden, because I feel it is a wasted game. So what do I do; I play every game on the hardest level (All-Madden) and I am so much more satisfied when I win. It sucks to lose, but I take it in stride (and reset the game :-)).

What if everyone was incredibly motivated to do something...what kind of world would this be? Just a thought, but it is interesting to think about.

I constantly struggle to find what makes me tick, and that is part of my apathy, and if I let it, it will be my downfall. I think we all just need a niche (sorry no accent mark) that we can rely on. That's what is great about our society...our ability to pick and choose what's interesting and make that a part of our life.

Let me give you a "real world" example with a company called "Patagonia." Their turnover rate of employees is at an incredible 4%, an extremely low number for a major organization. When they hire employees, they hire people who believe in something, whether it's saving a mountain or rescuing kittens. Patagonia's employees are allowed to adjust their schedule when necessary, and they go out into the world and make a difference. At the actual store, where they sell adventure/outdoor clothing gear, the employees actually tell the truth and will recommend or not recommend certain gear for people. They are not out just for the mighty dollar. Employees are encouraged to take their beliefs in society and are even justified in extreme circumstances. One statement from their company policy is about supporting employees who get arrested in non-violent protests regarding a certain topic.

It's that kind of thinking, and that kind of family-like organizational setting that has made the company so successful. People there have found their niche.

So I guess the question is...What makes you focus? What makes me focus? We're all inspired by something, but what is it?

If you know answers to those questions, awesome. If you're like me and still unsure, I wish the best of luck to you. That niche is out there; just keep searching, you never know what may come up.