The Mentor | #55 | Focus

Each month, I share 3 things I’ve read on skills, careers, and personal development.

“The successful warrior is the average person with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of focus—not just for yourself, but for the people you work with. This means assigning clear priorities and encouraging people to zero in on just one thing at a time. At first, it may feel limiting or even insulting to be asked to focus so narrowly. After all, we like to believe we’re capable of juggling multiple priorities. But the truth is, the more tightly you focus, the more likely you are to achieve something extraordinary.

The principle is simple: the highest-impact problems are often the hardest ones to solve. Left to their own devices, most people gravitate toward solving problems they already understand. These are the “small problems”—challenging but solvable with a little effort. The “big problems,” on the other hand, are the ones that make the biggest difference, but they require relentless focus and persistence because the solutions aren’t obvious. And, failure will occur along the way.

By simplifying priorities and focusing one person on one problem, you’re not just increasing productivity—you’re creating the space for true breakthroughs to emerge.

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1

The story of when Tiger lost all of his trophies. Except a few.

Intensity

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2

Just focus until you conquer this one problem.

Breakthrough Ideas

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3

The price of success is choosing not to do some things, so you can focus on other things.

The Price of Success