The Superpower of the Next Decade
In a recent class, the instructor said something that really resonated with me:
The superpower of this century is becoming indistractable.
Most leaders do not lose due to lack of talent. They lose due to divided focus.
In another lesson on behavioral tendencies on the same day, I was reminded of something equally important:
Personality assessments never trump personal decisions.
Put these two together and you arrive at a powerful leadership truth:
You cannot blame distraction on your wiring.
You cannot blame inconsistency on your temperament.
You are responsible for your focus.
The Real Source of Distraction
We tend to think distraction is external.
… The phone. Notifications. Email. People.
But most distractions start internally.
Anxiety before a hard conversation.
Discomfort before prospecting.
Fear of rejection.
Boredom during deep work.
The behavior is not the problem. The feeling is.
When we feel the internal trigger, we escape. And then we blame the escape behavior.
Indistractable leaders learn to say one simple phrase when this urge surfaces:
Not right now.
They choose traction over temporary relief.
Know Your Wiring So You Can Guard It
This personality class also gave me visibility through another lens.
Some people gain energy externally.
Others internally.
Some zoom into details.
Others zoom out to the larger vision.
Some decide with logic.
Others through values.
Some crave structure.
Others thrive with flexibility.
Your tendencies are real. But they are not your destiny.
If you are future-driven and strategic, you may get lost in ideas and neglect execution.
If you are relationally wired, you may avoid hard conversations to preserve harmony.
If you are detailed, you may obsess over perfection and delay action.
Self-awareness is rare.
Ninety-five percent of people believe they are self-aware. But only about ten percent truly are.
Indistractable leadership requires knowing your default patterns and managing them on purpose.
Structure Creates Freedom
One of the biggest shifts for me has been this:
Stop measuring your day by what you checked off.
Start measuring it by whether you did what you said you would without distraction.
Make time for traction.
Design your environment.
Create a pact with yourself or someone who will call you out when you give away control.
The antidote to impulsive behavior is forethought.
Remember, God is not a God of chaos.
He is a God of order.
When we bring order to our focus, we honor the gifts and responsibilities we have been given.
A Simple Challenge
This week, I challenge you to do three things:
Identify one internal trigger that pulls you off course.
Name one behavioral tendency that makes you vulnerable to distraction.
Block focused time and protect it with the phrase, ‘not right now.’
Indistractable is not a personality type.
It is a discipline.
And disciplined leaders change their teams, their businesses, and their homes.
If this encouraged you, please forward it to someone who needs it.
Stay steady.
Want more like this every week?
Order The Steady Leader Book: Order Book
God Bless!
~ Schuyler Williamson