If you’re going to get anything done, you’ve got to decide on what it is then focus on it.
Sounds obvious, and easy . . . and would be but for all the distractions, the little things that eat away at our minutes, our hours, and ultimately our lives.
The good is always competing with the best.
The thing about focus is that there’s a whole lot that has to be out of focus. Like everything else!
Recently Anne and I watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary of an 85-year old chef who’s been making sushi ever since he dropped out of high school. After a lifetime of daily repetition on one thing, he’s reached the distinction of holding the highest honor for such in the world, repeatedly.
The film’s producer was originally going to feature various sushi chefs but when he found Jiro Ono, his work was so far above any other he stopped there.
Only sushi is served in Jiro’s ten-seat restaurant in a Tokyo subway station. Reservation are made a year in advance. Japan has declared him a national treasure.
How has he done it? Focus. He’s performed the same routine day after day, disdaining the day off, always thinking of how to improve. As the title says, he even dreams of sushi.
In it all he’s come up with a strong work ethic and a philosophy of ultimate simplicity. His offering to customers looks supremely simple. One could wonder: How could this be such a high art form, a gastronomic delicacy of the highest order? But as in all true art, there’s so much more than we at first imagine.
About it, he says things like, “You must love your job . . . you must fall in love with your work.” And, “Even at my age in my work I have not reached perfection.”
Nor is it reachable. Always striving, he says, “No one knows where the top is.”
So far, he’s at it, at least compared to others.
Where did it all come from? Focus.
Nothing happens without it. And for great things, a great deal of it is required.
And a great disregard for many other things.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
6:27 am
I admired Jiro’s focus and yet also felt sad for him.
8:27 am
Amazing ! Just yesterday in your studio, I spoke of my lack of focus in these early months of retirement. With all these free hours, I seem to be accomplishing very little beyond that which I accomplished while working.
So, my friend, you and Jiro hit the nail on the head. Focus! Focus on the things that I absolutely want to accomplish. Things like becoming a better husband and artist.
Thanks for the reminder.
12:12 pm
This message particularly touched me, Hyatt. What a life guiding principle: focus that ultimately leads to simplicity. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Ben Franklin: “If I had more time, I would write you a shorter letter.” I read your entries with time for reflection on them in the mornings. Thank you so much for sharing your inspirations. Incredible painter and writer!
2:41 pm
I was in our living room not long ago. Alison was at her workbench designing jewelry. I was detail/painting a rear trim panel for a ’64 Falcon Sprint. She says, “Honey, no one does that like you do… in fact, who even does that?” We then considered how unique our setting was in that moment, my bride doing her craft, and me restoring an old car part. Those who know me know I don’t tend to focus that well, a real birdwalker. However, in that one thing, I can really zero in, and love the feeling when I’m there. It’s got to be similar with you and Anne.
2:43 am
Focus, focus, focus, with simplicity … years ago I realized that with a brain going in so many directions, I HAD TO FOCUS to get anything done … and zeroing in became a peaceful way to go about accomplishing things. Thanks for being such a good writer, Hyatt, with an ability to intuit in the Spirit. Honestly, your writings always seem to be what and when I need to read.
2:50 pm
I want to hear and focus on what the Father is doing. That way I won’t have to concern myself with balancing everything. Just loving Him and others.