There is a significant difference between time and attention. Time is the ticking of the clock where minutes and hours pass by with or without you. Attention is how you are “clicking” while the clock is ticking. Time doesn’t matter. What matters is the quality of your experiences. And your experiences are determined by what you pay attention to.
A job seeker spends 2 hours at a networking function. His attention is on the food and he converses with a few people he knows. He’s not building new relationships to land a job, he’s at the right place with the wrong attention. The clock is ticking but he’s not clicking.
Nancy, a single mom, has a full time job, seeking a better one. She returns home from work and prepares dinner for her children. She assists them with homework and discusses their day’s events. Once the children are in bed, Nancy meditates for 20 minutes and then fires up her computer. She identifies three companies she would like to work for and emails her resume to those companies. She sends out 12 resumes a week this way. And then, if she has time, she’ll watch a little TV or read a book before bed. Nancy is clicking. She is “paying attention” to what is most important.
A Protean Success Philosophy:
“Pay attention to what really matters most, to get the most of what really matters”
5 Tips to Help You “Click” In a Fast-Paced, Short-Attention-Span World
1) Know what is really important to you and write it down!
Pay special attention to what you really want, what will make you happy, and what constitutes a joyous, quality life.
2) Pay attention to what you’re paying attention to!
When you begin to pay attention to what you’re paying attention to, you’ll realize how often your mind is off track. Attention requires disciplined concentration – you need to check in often to what you’re paying attention to, so you remain on track!
3) Just say “no!”
Beware of, and avoid, distractions and disruptions from well-intentioned people, friends, family members, and even your own thoughts! They’ll consistently try and steer you away from what you really want, what will make you happy, and what will constitute a quality life. One of the most valuable words in the English language is “no.”
4) Whatever you do and wherever you are – be totally there!
If you are introduced to people, focus and remember their names. If someone is speaking with you, be there – interested and engaged. Stay focused and be present in every moment.
5) Slow down!
Let others race to the finish line, but don’t follow. Relax and smell the roses along the way. Learn to pay attention and appreciate the beauty and wonder of everyday moments; even in the midst of a busy, often chaotic and stressful life.
So pay attention – and “click in” before you “click out.”
