Confession: I am easily distracted. When faced with menial tasks, I welcome disruptions. My inner dialogue says, “Before I start this project, I need to return a call about a speaking engagement next month. Knowing my contact is a Rangers fan, it’s imperative to watch the replay of Corey Seager’s barehanded play from this week’s game before our conversation. And while it’s on my mind, I should purchase the jersey my son has been eyeing for his upcoming birthday.”
Any acute non-emergency seems more interesting than sticking with a difficult or monotonous chore. While these interruptions may initially seem harmless, they can accumulate into significant issues. My own life experience brought me to a tipping point with distraction, and it almost ruined my career.
In today’s hyper-connected and always-overwhelmed world, being easily distracted is the norm. Focus is the exception. To regain control of our attention, we must overcome chronic disruptions and their costly consequences, and embrace a state of “indisruptable.” This is more than learning to ignore our buzzing smartphone; it’s about mastering the art of directing our attention.
Fuel Focus And Passion With Genuine Curiosity
While my story of having ADHD as a child is mostly one of flying under the radar and compensating by being an extreme extrovert, I had the superpower to hyper-focus on what I was curious about. I could immerse myself in the world of Legos for endless hours, creating intricate structures, completely tuning out the world around me — even the persistent calls to dinner from my parents. Conversely, tasks that failed to capture my interest, like piano lessons (sorry, Mom!), felt insurmountable, a mountain of tedium.
Fast forward to today, and this trait still persists. When I encounter something that lights the spark of curiosity within me, I dive into it with full force, becoming completely absorbed. I attain a state of being indisruptable. Fortunately, you don’t need an ADHD diagnosis to channel this kind of focus. The essence of becoming indisruptable lies in the pursuit of what genuinely captivates you, following the trails blazed by your passions and interests. When was the last time you were so consumed with curiosity that nothing could distract you from your goal?
At its heart, the indisruptable mindset is fueled by curiosity. It’s curiosity that transforms routine tasks into opportunities for learning and growth. Curiosity fuels passion, which powers our ability to be indisruptable.
Find Clarity In The Midst Of Chaos
Clarity is knowing, with confidence, what matters most. It is a foundation of the indisruptable mindset. In a sea of endless demands, knowing what truly warrants our focus is paramount. This isn’t about filtering out the noise but understanding the strategic value of where we direct our gaze. Clarity is a dynamic process of continual realignment (both personally and professionally), ensuring that our attention supports our deepest intentions and values.
When my daughter wants to sing me a new song she learned while I am in the middle of writing an email, I am presented with several choices: I could pause my email to give her my undivided attention; ask her to wait until I’ve completed my task; or attempt to multitask, giving her cursory attention while also trying to finish my email — a compromise that I know all too well is unfair to both my daughter and the recipient of the email. Possessing clarity allows me to navigate these choices wisely, making decisions that are mindful of the immediate context.
Where we put attention is a clear indicator of our values and ultimately, it shapes our life’s trajectory. The pursuit of clarity — actively seeking to understand where our attention should be directed — is not merely beneficial; it is vital. It empowers us to make deliberate choices that align with our values, guiding us towards a life led with purpose and intentionality.
Control Distraction By Embracing Cognitive Capacity
Our mental bandwidth is finite, a fact vividly illustrated by the multitasking myth. True productivity and innovation don’t stem from doing more things simultaneously, but from doing the right things with unparalleled focus. Being indisruptable means recognizing our limits and choosing to invest our attention in activities that drive our goals forward and enrich our lives, and saying no (for a time) to almost everything else.
Foster A Community That Values Attention
Our journey towards becoming indisruptable doesn’t occur in isolation. It unfolds within the communities we build and engage with. An indisruptable community champions deep work, values clarity, and supports each member’s quest for focused attention. It’s a community that doesn’t interrupt each other with a “quick question” or a chat about weekend plans when our calendar is blocked off for focus time. It’s a community that understands the power of collective focus and the impact it can have on achieving shared visions and goals.
Rise Above Chronic Disruption
The path to becoming indisruptable is both a personal and collective journey. It challenges us to rethink how we engage with our environment, manage our cognitive resources, and interact with one another. In embracing this mindset, we don’t just find a remedy for distraction; we unlock a strategy for thriving in an era of endless disruptions.
As we forge ahead, let’s commit to this transformation, not merely as a means to enhance productivity but as a fundamental shift towards living more intentional, fulfilled lives. The future belongs to the indisruptables — those ready to lead with focus in an unfocused world.