THE LEADERSHIP LENS Newsletter <download pdf>
December 2003, © Mark Sincevich, Staash Press, LLC
A monthly resource providing insight, opinion and practical information on creativity, balance, personal leadership & perspective

The Power of Focus

The thermometer on the boardwalk registered 72 degrees.   It was a Tuesday in late October and the sun shone brightly as a slight breeze floated off of the ocean. This was the third day of my self-imposed offsite.   Sitting in a beach chair, I just finished transcribing the key information from another book into my notes, so I could implement some of the ideas for 2004.   I had stacks of notes weighed down by my backpack so that they wouldn't blow away from a sudden gust.   Small grains of sand even found their way into the creases of the books and magazines I was using.

Sure I could have been making phone calls to potential customers and working on things that keep all of us busy such as e-mail, phone calls and meetings back in the office, but I needed to get focused and step away.   I have found that taking a few days away from my home, my office and even my family each year allows me to think strategically instead of getting caught up in the 'doing.'   After just one day at the beach without a cell phone or a connection to an Internet 'hot-spot,' my perception of time started to slow down.   By the third day, I felt less hurried and was able to 'be' involved in the process of thinking creatively and strategically and of getting focused.  

I noticed a man on a jetty fishing at one end of the beach, so I pulled my camera out of my backpack and attached a zoom lens.   Photography also reminds me of the power of focus.   There is an old adage that when you want to tell a small story, you need to pick a big aperture.   For those of you who don't have a photography background, aperture refers to the opening inside a lens.   It allows light to pass through and hit the film so an exposure (photograph) is made.   This means that when you pick a low-numbered aperture, such as F2.8, you allow a lot of light (this is where the big part comes in).   There is a tradeoff however; you get a lot of light, but you can only focus sharply on a small area.   While it may be slightly confusing that a big aperture refers to a small numerical value, I believe that there is a more important meaning in 'big.'   When you focus on something small, the implications are quite large or big.   I set the aperture of my lens to F2.8, because I wanted to focus on just the man fishing.  

The power of focus extends to the business world.   One of my potential customers just lost his largest client and he felt that something needed to be changed after 20 years in business.   He was busy making phone calls, upgrading his web site, redirecting product development and changing his company logo in an attempt to attract new customers.   It seemed that he wasn't using a big enough aperture.   His story was too large and he was trying to make too many changes.   I encouraged him to get focused by redefining what makes his people and his company successful in small ways.   I have a strong feeling that this will change how he will approach the redesign of his company logo and even his 'elevator speech.'   We are planning an offsite to sharpen his focus and to plan strategically.

Sharply focusing on the small things, his logo and his elevator speech, will have big implications on everything else that he does going forward such as his business plan, his web site and how he approaches his new clients. The next time you need to get focused, make sure you pick a big aperture and step away; it will make all of the difference personally and professionally!   Happy Holidays.

About Mark Sincevich
Mark Sincevich works with organizations to develop leaders with more focus and creativity. He uses a unique photography angle in his speaking programs and writing. As a result of Mark's work, his customers gain a fresh perspective, generate new ideas, sharpen the focus and create more business. Mark is the chief perspective officer of his organization, Leading with Focus, the founder of Staash Press, a member of the National Speakers Association and the executive director of the Digital Photography Institute. He is frequently quoted in the media and the author of three books including, "The Leadership Lens." In between assignments, Mark can be found spending time with his family in the Washington, DC area or writing in cafés with character. He can be contacted at 301-654-3010 or www.leadingwithfocus.com .  

Order Mark's Latest Book, The Leadership Lens - key lessons from behind the camera about leading in an uncertain future, immediately available at www.staashpress.com/llens.html .