Focused Impact for Faith-Driven Leaders
Lord, help me stay focused on what matters most!
A colleague once suggested that I’m “multi-passionate.”
I’m interested in many things, and sometimes I’ll fixate on them for a long time. Looking back, that’s fine for hobbies; it’s costly in business.
In the design field, we call this “multi-disciplinary,” if only to convince ourselves and those who love us that we have good intentions. As a design professional who began his career as a generalist, understanding how to solve problems with design thinking has served me well for four decades.
Maybe you’ve worn too many hats. Perhaps you feel your life and career pulling in ten directions, or you’re wondering if the next opportunity that comes your way is an exit or an onramp. If so, this is for you.
We have more opportunities than ever to create value, generate wealth, and make an impact, which makes it even harder to stay focused on where to invest your time, talent, treasure, and trust.
Focus keeps you aligned with your goals, your path, and your mission.
Focus comes from having a clear purpose: keeping your eyes fixed on a clear vision of your destination, and avoiding the distraction of other good—even great—things that demand your attention or appeal to you.
Focus is where your time and attention are centered. You lose focus when you take your eyes off the goal you want to attain or the prize you hope to gain.
Imagine you’re already doing significant work in your current role, and an offer comes along with more responsibility in a larger market. Along with it come more perks: higher pay, greater recognition, and more status.
Will you be able to maintain the same level of focus and clarity of vision if you accept it?
Will it concentrate or dilute your impact?
Will it build upon or break the momentum in your life?
Does it align with your “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet”?
These are ‘best vs. best’ decisions that require more than quick logic. They are defining choices that demand prayerful discernment.
If you approach defining decisions with the same casual disregard as a daily choice, you might end up on the wrong path or in a place where you can’t flourish in the next season of life.
Choosing Between Best and Best
My father often reminded me, “Sometimes you must choose between best and best, not just better and best.” Defining decisions requires much prayer.
Eliminate possibilities to focus on life-changing opportunities.
There are many ways you can grow your business, expand your influence, and increase your opportunities. You can’t pursue every one of them. Possibility is the intersection of many roads; opportunity is the one you choose to take to reach your destination.
You will lose focus if you keep your eyes on the finish line rather than on the road ahead.
Strategy has to come before action; training before the race. Know what end you have in mind (write it down!), and focus your time and attention on what it will take to get you there.
To make an impact on others’ lives, you must eliminate distractions that keep you from staying focused on what you do best. All things are possible; it’s focus that removes distractions and enables you to move toward your goal.
The problem is that we’re restless. We’re always looking for what’s next. A clear vision and disciplined focus lead to contentment.
Without focus, opportunities become distractions. A career change or business opportunity might appeal to you, but is it right for you? Eliminate possibilities that may be good to focus on the significant opportunities.
Without focus, possibilities become obstacles disguised as opportunity.
Without focus, your endurance is unsustainable. When you become unfocused, you may not finish strong.
The author of Hebrews encourages all of us to “Strip off every weight that slows us down… let us run with endurance.” (Hebrews 12). Vision, strategy, and focus are part of the training that keeps you in the race for the long term.
How? By keeping your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Asking Him to direct your steps; maintain your focus; guard your steps; protect your margins. Allow him to direct your time, talent, treasure, and trust.
Without focus, your endurance is unsustainable.
Do you want to finish well?
What opportunities are in front of you that require more prayer so you can discern what’s best? This week, write down three ‘good’ possibilities you will lay aside and pray about so you can focus on life-changing opportunities for the current and following season of your life.
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