Tag: focused

Means or end

Posted on by philipdodson


We can always do better is the default thinking.

What’s wrong with that?

The challenge is better is subjective and it also implies that we have not done something well. It is always looking into the future so everything becomes just a means towards a mind projected end. So there is no focus on the ‘doing’ just the outcome.

We could choose to accept what we have done, learn for sure, but perhaps to say we did this thing or another element really well, how can we do more of what we did right next time.

The key is to focus on the ‘doing’ with all our concentration, being in the moment, instead of the focus being on some imagined future outcome. So the means is the end. The outcome is a distraction and a drain on our positive focus as we start to engage with anxiety about the end.

The means is the end and not a means to an end because when we focus on the end we are lost right now and do not produce our best. The end is a projected outcome that doesn’t exist. The doing right now is all we have and that’s what counts.

The most important work

Posted on by philipdodson

Most people spend their days responding to ‘urgent’ tasks such as phone calls, emails, social media notifications, and chatting.

However, the work that is most likely to propel us towards our goals in life we define as not ‘urgent’ and as it is more time consuming, challenging and requires time to focus on, we carry on with the low hanging fruit of so-called ‘urgent’ tasks as we feel busy and productive.

We are always in responsive mode instead of focused mode and it takes bravery and patience to step away from the tasks to do the work that really matters and step off the ‘busy’ treadmill.