→ Divide Your Attention – Say No To Others, Say No To Yourself
The only way I can focus on my craft and my art is if I don’t constantly dilute it.
Lots to learn from in this excellent post from Randy Murray about the importance of saying “no”: This has been a hard lesson for me to learn (and I’m still learning). More often than not, it is the most compassionate answer one can give. Remembering this bit helps:
The key to saying no successfully is to understand that you are not saying no to everything, you are saying yes to those things you want.
So, so, good. Seriously, if you read nothing else today, read this.
I, agree. But I find the first part of this series even better. Here’s the key passage (at least for me):
If I try to multitask I find that I get absolutely nothing done. It’s only when I can select a specific project and turn off everything else and still the noise of other projects and demands that I can make progress. But the second part of what makes it work is this: I don’t have to focus on one thing exclusively all day long.
I’ve found that if I have specific, short deliverables or milestones I can move a project to a certain state, then take a break and shift to a different project and give it my focus. I am dividing my attention, but I’m dividing it into periods of hours, not minutes or seconds. From the perspective at the end of the day I’ve worked on many tasks and I’ve accomplished a great deal. From the perspective of the hour, I’m laser focused on just one thing. Those who attempt to shift their focus more quickly, from minute to minute, are fooling themselves. It is exhausting and counterproductive.
