Motivational Speaker Comments on focus and interruptions

Right now you should be doing something else. Something brought you to my motivational speaker blog. If you’re here, I’ve tempted you away from more pressing matters. There’s work to be done, goals to pursue. But instead of doing your work, you’re looking at mine.

Don’t worry. I’m not trying to sell you anything here. I just want to make you aware of your interruptions. You are surrounded by outside parties who want to pull your attention. Every email, every ad, every headline, every phone call, every text message is someone else wanting your focus. It’s as if the world is becoming a giant screen with an infinite number of pop-up ads. Everyone wants to tell their story, and they want you to pay attention. The more you give, the less you have.

There’s an entire industry devoted to stealing your focus. It’s called “marketing.” The sole purpose of these folks is to gain your attention through images, sounds, catchphrases and anything more interesting than your current thoughts. This is done in support of their own goals, often at your expense.

I market my motivational speaker services. I advertise my books. I put links in the previous sentence in hopes of drawing you further into my web site. I’m proud to be a motivational speaker and I stand behind the value I provide. But the goal of my marketing is to get your attention and get hired. As a marketer, my intent is not malicious, but it is self-serving.

You’ll get a lot more done if you protect your attention. Insulate yourself from distractions. Turn off the phone, lock your door, and shut down your browser. Guard yourself from any marketing and shop for products and services on your own time. Return calls and email later, and wait until you’ve gotten everything done before reading your favorite blog.

Unless, of course, it’s this one.