What the Focus are you talking about???

Jimmy Johnson has had an incredible coaching career.  Johnson was the first and one of only three football coaches to lead teams to both a major college football championship and a Super Bowl.

Jimmy recalls a motivational story he told the Dallas Cowboys before a game they needed to win to keep their season alive. 

“I told them that if I laid a two-by four plank across the room, everybody there would walk across it and not fall, because our focus would be that we were going to walk that two-by-four. But if I put that same two-by-four plank 10 stories high between two buildings only a few would make it, because the focus would be on failing. Focus is everything. The team that is more focused today is the team that will win this game.”
 
Johnson told his team not to be distracted by the crowed, the media, or the possibility of losing, but to focus on each play of the game itself just as if it were a good practice session. The Cowboys won the game by 52-17.
 
How good is your focus? 
 
Are you easily distracted or can you eliminate distractions?
 
In the martial arts, we have a philosophy called the Shoe Rack Theory.  When a student comes into class, they are encouraged to leave their challenges and problems in their shoes.  They go to class, have a great workout, are surrounded by great people, and hear a positive class message.
 
Many times, after class their problems are gone or they are in a better state of mind to deal with them. 
 
How can you apply the shoe rack theory in your life? 
 
Did you ever get a new car and when driving down the street you noticed how many people have the same make and model car that you do?  Why do you “all of the sudden” notice this? 
 
It’s what you are focused on!
 
In business, the greatest management principle in the world says, “Whatever we praise, recognize, and reward, we get more of.”  So, what happens when we focus on good behaviors and positive results?  We get more of them.
 
It’s all about focus!
 
When training a puppy to go to the bathroom outside dog trainers will tell you to give them a treat when they go outside.  Why?  Because puppies learn better through positive reinforcement.  So, the answer isn’t to yell at them when they have an accident in the house.  Focus on them doing the right thing in the right place and watch what happens! 
 
By the way, people are the exact same way! 
 
Thank you for being a part of the Elite Force family!