# Chapter 312

Staying on task is what brings about the most consistent progress. I am calling it “staying on task” this morning because I want to give it more flavor and nuance than just focus or attention may lend. Staying on task means that you get up every day and you plug away at whatever mountain you are moving to whatever conclusion. The mountain is unimportant, what kind or how tall or where its going to be moved is unimportant. The staying on task is the important piece. It is the part that is providing energy and forward motion to mountain-moving. My dad is much better at staying on task than I am, even though I am pretty good compared to most. My dad is almost compulsively obsessed with the task. It is the last thing he talks about before going to bed and almost the first word of his mouth in the morning.

Staying on task is just a constant problem solver, no rock too large or awkward to move eventually, stopping is not an option. Slowing down and figuring out how to resolve the rock-moving dilemma is acceptable and wise, but not for too long, then it becomes inertia or procrastination or distraction. And distraction is a mild word for a very powerful force. I got a work call right in the middle of our staying on task project yesterday and was deflected for an entire hour of talking and working, and then another hour of thinking as I got back to staying on task with our project. Soon we were grooving again and the hours flew.