Focus for the Insanely Interested
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Focus is often seen as the ability to concentrate in one thing - even to the extent of flow, in which you forget all about the surrounding world as you immerse yourself in the one thing that really gets you excited.
While that’s a great way of looking at focus, it’s not complete.
As you’ll see by looking at the two photos below, you can have completely different views to the world while maintaining a perfect focus all the while. The first one focuses on the smallest detail while the second looks at the big picture - the two angles of focus.
Photo credits: [1] Hypergurl, [2] Ennor
With this post, I’m starting my new series on focus. More specifically, focus for the insanely interested. Focus for the creative, entrepreneurial generalistic who likes to look at all sides of things rather than some of their very specific aspects.
Focus in the sense of not losing the forest for the trees.
So, if your guiding principle is “God is in the details”, this series probably won’t be for you. And I won’t blame you - after all, generalists do need specialists in order to maintain their own, broader focus. But, if you are interested in looking at the concept of focus from a bit different point of view, get ready to see how the series unfolds.
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I’m looking forward to sharing these thoughts with you, and hearing what you think of focus - from the point of view of someone insanely interested in everything.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Boy Jarkko, am I looking forward to this series!
Sometimes I get so many ideas that I don’t know where to begin…so I DON’T begin.
mark @ mytropicalescape’s last blog post: Open Source SOCIAL Entrepreneurship and a Guest Post
May 8th, 2008 at 4:16 am
@mark I am the same way ! Jarkko I hope your series will help
austin’s last blog post: New Reality TV Show names
May 8th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
@mark: That is something I’ve dealt with as well. I generally have many different projects going on and tons of ideas floating around in my head. The most successful strategy for me was simply consciously closing the loops on the projects I started that were not true priorities for my short and long term goals. Also, when I have a ton of ideas popping into my head I consciously evaluate and whittle away the ones that also don’t align with my priorities. If it’s something I want to go back to I write it down in my “idea book” but I’ve realized quite a few of my ideas should not ultimately be acted upon.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hey guys, sorry for staying quiet for so many days - there have been some big things happening in the family (funnily enough they relate pretty well to this series - so, I’ll be talking about the things in my next post, which will also be the first real post in this series, probably tomorrow).
Good to hear that you are looking forward to the series - once again, it’ll make me work hard not to let you down (and btw, tomorrow will be this blog’s 1-year birthday!)
May 14th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Hi there! I’d just like to say that I found your blog for the first time today and I really enjoy it. Your title, ‘insanely interested in everything’- it especially struck a chord with me, I feel exactly the same, it feels like there are just too many things I want to do — the opportunity cost of choosing can be painful :)
Thank you for the inspiration!
~Jessica
Jess’s last blog post: The Intelligent Keyboard Design: Dvorak
May 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hey Jess, I’m glad you like the blog! Good to have you here :)
May 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I was recently laid off from the day job & going through a dream/goal/career transitional period. Such valuable advice here. It’s motivation to dive into planning for a creative fulfilling future.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Hi Mary! I hope you can make most out of your transitional period (although I’m sure it must also be a rather stressful place to be in) and create a fulfilling future - maybe one filled with your art?