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I find that in speaking with others about focus, people often confuse it with mindfulness. While the two can go hand-in-hand, they are not completely synonymous. To me, mindfulness is simply one component of the larger concept. It is a tool that can help you focus in the short-term, but mindfulness alone will not solve the sustained lack of focus in modern society. So,…

Do we have sufficient focus? The ability to resist impulses, exercise self-discipline, work concentrated on one task at a time, control attention and maintain cognitive control is what I call focus. From this follows presence, attentiveness and empathy. In my work I have seen a lack of these traits over the last few years. This…

I will never forget the moment I became a World Champion sharpshooter. Standing on the podium, looking out at the cheering crowd, it was a scene unlike anything I could have imagined. An unexpected surge of deep gratitude rose up within myself as I realized this hard-earned goal. And still, in this moment—as my goal…

Long-term focus isn’t only about increasing your performance at work; it is so much larger than the work-related spin we put on it. Long-term, or relaxed, focus is something that improves both the professional and personal aspects of your life. At the office, it is greater productivity, discernment and quality; at home, it is peace,…

A few weeks ago, I received a question from a follower about how one should go about creating and maintaining a present mindset. Here’s my answer: 1.    Notice your thoughts and emotions Learn to identify where your thoughts reside, past, present or future. Awareness of your thoughts helps you recognize which ones are distractions and which…

During my 25,000 hours on the shooting range, I developed a simple model to help one come into, and maintain, focus. My Focus Model outlines the obstacles to focus, as well as how to overcome them to tap into your full potential. Let’s break it down:   Step One: Take note of your thoughts and…

My son loves pretending to cut the grass near our house. I always accompany him as he slowly, methodically, and enthusiastically “mows” our lawn, line after line, over and over again. After about an hour and a half, we take a break to eat. One day, however, I decided to see how long he would go…

There are two types of people in the world: those whose lives are steered by others, and those who take charge of their focus and steer life down their own course. The latter of the two have refined their controlled focus, and this skill makes all the difference in leading the life one wishes to…

As a society, we’ve adopted this notion that there is so much to do in so little time. We try to do everything at once so that we can check off those imaginary boxes more quickly. I’d like to challenge this multitasking, time crunching mindset with one simple question: What if we dared to view life as long…