# Chapter 247

Remove distractions – focus on the work – how do you spend your time? - Masterminds

I think few people understand how truly distracted we are and how fractured our focus has become. It is even getting more difficult to have conversations with people because they are so distracted they can’t complete their sentences and they segue constantly into rabbit holes and in other directions. All the while I try to be patient as I wait for the question. Often there is the uncomfortable pregnant silent moment when the person rambling along finally takes a breath. As they wait for you to answer the question they think they asked you, which they never did, distractions are so high and focus so broken that even basic conversation proves almost impossible.

Removing distractions is not just a physical activity, it is also a mental discipline and decision. The noisy dog barking outside is one distraction we are all in favor of removing. But Facebook email and instagram are distractions most are addicted to and they aren’t going anywhere easily. And then there is the second phenomena that I am observing with my clients, is that if they are successful in removing most of their distractions, they no longer know how to focus! They can’t focus!! They actually appear to be incapable of keeping their butts in their seat and getting the work done!

How do you spend your time? Well 80% of us are distracted. 19% of us are fighting distractions and removing them as we can and figure out how to do so, but we may discover that it doesn’t really help because we no longer seem to have the ability to focus. And 1% of us are wondering what this conversation is about because we have been focusing on our work. /“The successful man is the average man, focused.” ~ Anonymous/