This week is a hypothesis on focus.
Like last week, I am sharing ideas.
I have talked about productivity because that was what I struggled with throughout my childhood. Procrastination plagued me, but now I’ve cultivated enough discipline that work itself is not the challenge.
A new challenge has emerged ironically from increased opportunities. It is increasingly more difficult to remain loyal to one pursuit once we have optimized productivity. This is the idea of specialty that I want to focus on this week.
I want to shift the percentage of time being devoted to quantifiable goals (productivity) to the breakdown of that “productive” time (specialty). For example, if we are tasked with two goals, we can only give at most 50% to each. Although it does not work like this in reality, if we specialize ourselves–by limiting our goals–we can increase our success in those remaining areas. Really, this is only a second form of sacrifice. Instead of sacrificing “unproductive tasks” for “productive tasks” we are sacrificing the goals of one productive task for another.
I am beginning to realize that the hyperproductivity I have mentioned in previous posts is probably only best for shorter term goals. To make productivity a religion is possible, but I do not think this is the lifestyle most want to live. I do not think it is the lifestyle most can live. The sacrifices required long term might outweigh the outcomes of the work. I think this is where many successful men and women ultimately end up regretting their lives. The question then becomes whether or not we are willing to give our lives to our goal. If the goal is to raise children, society does not question giving your life to the pursuit. If this goal is to build a business, there is much more ideological conflict.
At the end of last week, I mentioned primary jobs and “extracurriculars.” I believe that someone has the ability to focus on multiple tasks at once; however, I believe that narrowing down this list of competencies is ultimately what leads to the greatest success of an individual within a population. While there are many examples of individuals that have achieved great accomplishments, across diverse disciplines, most of the renowned scientists, artists, leaders, and thinkers in history are known for one or two great accomplishments within their life. I’m sure there exist examples of people that by happenstance or circumstance achieved many remarkable accomplishments, but life is confined to a century (at least historically). Most of history’s most celebrated accomplishments were likely formed from many long hours, many dedicated years, to that specialty or a compounding of the knowledge from one area to another. Again, there exist chance and happenstance, but preparation increases favorable outcomes.
Finding and then committing to one or two areas of specialty is not easy, especially in our fast-paced, modern system. There is also a societal pressure to be “well-rounded,” but this is not rewarded (at least not monetarily) in our society. Mr. Jack of all trades, master of none is easily replaceable–he does not offer a competitive skillset.
What was trendy yesterday is no longer “cool” or special. Generation Z tries so hard to be special. We can see the challenge of specialization proliferated throughout the younger demographics, especially apparent as students transition into adult life. The stereotypical college student that changes his degree midway through his education is not an uncommon reality. During this period of our lives so much of the world is opening up to us as we’re still discovering our personal inclinations and unique passions. For students that still struggle with productivity, this process of discovering specialty can persist well into adulthood, if ever ending.
The significance of this is why it has been on my mind so much recently. As I progress through my university education, my goal is to continue my exploration, but I will gradually begin to narrow my focus down into a specialty. To achieve my ambition and reach the point I want to be at within my career I expect that I will be required to not only know a diverse list of insights, but that I will also require high level, Specialty skills.
Here is a quote from Modern Wisdom #738:
“‘So unbalanced’ I remember I took that as such an insult for such a long period of time. Now, part of that is because when I was being brought up, balance was one of the big frames in my household, like ‘you have to be balanced’–which really meant you have to be awesome at everything… But balanced was the word, so being unbalanced was a term that was used as an insult. So, for so many years I wanted to be balanced, but then I was like ‘nothing great was ever achieved by people that try and be great at all things’…” (Williamson, #738 – 1:04:20).
I will not quote the whole conversation, but their conversation for those few minutes work perfectly with what I said above.
Going an inch wide, but a mile deep best describes how I have learned and developed skills. My goal is to specialize myself so that, in one day, one week, one year, no one could get to the point where they out do me better than me. If I can then apply this specialization professionally, I know that I will achieve great career success. And, that is where I will end this week!
The goal of 2024–find a specialty I can commit to.
The goal of 2025– see how far I can get with focus.
Additionally,
As I have begun my second semester in college, the endlessness of work and deadlines has prompted me to doubt myself and fear the person that I really am. I believe that I’m still within the developmental stages of becoming the person that I want to become. This is a very delicate time, at least psychologically. The significance of my worries might be more or less irrelevant, but that is not necessarily how they feel.
Modern wisdom #736 shares some good insight here:
“Dismissive humor is our friend in situations, and I will prepare people for that because it is inevitable. If you have these voices in your head, if you have worked very hard to get them out of your head, that is the victory. The victory is not that they never encroach back in…” (Williamson, #736 – 58:40).
This has been Tristan from HQ, it always will be Tristan. I will catch you later. Have a good week y’all!
Citation
Williamson, Chris, host. “#736 – Dr. Paul Conti – How To Fix Your Negative Inner Thoughts” Modern Wisdom, Spotify, 25 Jan. 2024, https://open.spotify.com/episode/3aX03qe0VLq2qkBqCO8sZW?si=c7566658e91a4cc4. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024.
Williamson, Chris, host. “#738 – Alex Hormozi – 21 Brutally Honest Lessons About Life” Modern Wisdom, Spotify, 29 Jan. 2024, https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vSvpvgwFifOxEvwYZyD3O?si=3056d47ac8ea48e8. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024.