30. September 2011 by BruceSmith.

FOCUS

Where there is no vision, people perish and become a laughing stock–The Bible.  It was true of the people of Israel, its true of all teams (like the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox as of late!), its true of business, and its true of us.  We need proper sight, vision, focus.

Its time to focus.   Focus, mental, physical and otherwise, is the element which opens up to us, a full world of adventure.  Focus, is the game within the game.  In the classic text on the Inner Game of Tennis, Tim Gallwey presents a convincing case that the mental part of the game, the focus part, is what determines how success unfolds on the court (and this is true for the beginner as well as the accomplished player).  Its the focus which determines how we perform under pressure.  Its the focus which determines how we stay the course, how we pursue the game, how long we remain in the point, and how the game unfolds.  Its the focus which determines the resolve with which we approach a critical point.  Its the focus which establishes how we handle setbacks in the game, and its the focus which allows us to execute a strategic plan that can lead to victory.  Its all about the focus–in tennis and life.  The lazy, distracted, or inattentive mind has no chance for achieving excellence.

You have seen, no doubt, those special players who can raise the bar on the levels of focus as needed.  These players can actually thrive under the pressure of match play.  While others seem to only “play out” when nothing is on the line, these focused performers want the ball on their racquet when it matters most.  Called to meet the challenges of a big match, a huge point, or a critical game, the focused competitor raises the level of the game in the big moments.  In fact, the truly focused player thrives on big points.  These hitters swing bigger, press harder, think smarter, and embrace the moment all the more when its all on the line.  If you are a doubles player, these are the teammates you want next to you on the court.  If looking for a spouse, friend, business partner or confidant, these are your people.  If you are a singles player, these are not the guys you want to see on the other side of the net.  These people play like its all on the line all the time.  They will not let you off easy, and they refuse to embrace the game casually.  They are going to bring it, and bring it big.  When we see this quality in a player or in the life of a person its easy to say, “I need some of that”.  And, indeed, we all do.  

Andre Agassi, the hall of fame player, and winner of numerous grand slams, is known to have had two careers.  In his early career, at his admission, he lacked the kind of focus which we have come to know him for.  He lacked that focus on the court, off the court, and in life in general.  At some point, as he tells in his book, Open, he woke up to the reality that focus was lacking.  It was at that point that his second career began, and it was at that point that life took on an entirely new trajectory.  The rest as we now know, is history.  And what a history it has been.  Andre went from being a pro on the way out too early to becoming a newly committed and passionately focused pursuer of the game.  This reality, according to Andre, was true on and off the court.  As he came to understand that life was more than he ever expected it could be both on and off the court, his drive, focus, and heart were set ablaze, infused with faith, and empowered in a way he had never experienced.  The game he literally hated for most of his life, and the life which was lacking for so long, transformed once he found proper focus.  His second career, even as an older competitor, was stronger and certainly more compelling, than his “first” career in the game.  His new work ethic, grit, court presence, and his new found compassion for others captured all tennis and sports fans alike.  Andre suggests it all began as he came to understand God’s call to spiritual focus, and an understanding of divine love and grace.  Life, all of it, finds its ultimate and daily focus here.

Beyond Andre, tennis fans will immediately recognize the intense focus of players like Jimmy Connors or Rafael Nadal.  These two guys border on maniacal focus and intensity on the court.  To tell you the truth, that’s what I love about them.  It is exceedingly rare to see either of these guys fold, melt down, or take a point off even if injured.  One thing you know when you watch them, it will all be left out there on the court, and it will be a show.  We all tune in to watch.  The bigger the match, the stronger the focus.  If we can learn to bring that kind of love, passion, and pursuit of the game to our own heart and mind, we would all be better served.  On the court, such a focus enables a player to always have their abilities dialed up and ready to go.  The feet are light and moving, the hands are fast and furious, and the mind is locked in.  That is a recipe for a winning game.  If we can learn to approach life in a similar manner, what a difference that would make!  In relational stress we could remain poised and on the mark.  Amidst tragedy we can remain steadfast and hopeful for the next move.  And amidst loss, we can move forward with grace and humility having the knowledge that we gave it our all, no regrets.  It reminds me of the kind of focus Jesus suggested we must have in order to serve Him well, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength”.  That is focus.

Too often, because of pressure, stress, laziness, boredom, and all sorts of distractions, we take a point off in life.  Once missed, that point won’t come back.  Miss enough of them, and we can find ourselves way behind in the game of life.  Enough missed points in a relationship can lead to default.  Enough missed points with regard to taking care of our bodies, can lead to physical disaster.  Enough missed points as it pertains to character, can lead to the distrust of those we hold dear.  Points missed don’t return.  Big points missed stay with us a long long time.  Ask any pro player, or life player, who had a chance for greatness on their racquet only to squander it, and listen closely to the regrets.  Its a strange thing how vividly the replays stay with us.  The good stay as well, so we are wise to stay focused and dialed in so that when the tape in our heads begins to run, we can sit back and enjoy.  When we hear the words, “Game. Set. Match.”, our focus will determine how those words are viewed.  

What I am not suggesting is that we are always so intense that we don’t relax, rest, or allow our hearts, minds, and bodies to repair.  And, for sure, it must be fun.  One can, and must, remained focused on the proper things even when that focus requires rest for the soul.  All pro tennis players take time to relax, repair, and breathe.  That time can come between points, amidst a point (in order to properly relieve pressure and prepare for the next shot), or between games or matches.  But its always focused rest.  Jesus himself said, “Come to me and find rest for your souls”.  Even rest for the athlete is strategic.  Rest off the court, and managed emotional, physical, and mental rest on the court is crucial for competitive play.  All elite athletes are constantly monitoring and directing, with intentionality, the level of their meters on all these things.  All the gauges must be seen in our minds eye so that we can be on point for every point.  In many matches, one point can make all the difference.  One opportunity can make or break the run to a championship.  The same is true in the game of life.  We need to stay tuned in.

Focus is about proper perspective.  Its about seeing the right things in the right way at the right time and moving forward appropriately.  Sometimes this means we must ramp up our energy levels, at other times it means we must quiet our hearts and breath deeply in order to prepare for the next point.  Ultimately, focus is about vision married to balance.  Its about intensity in the right degree, the right situation, applied in the right way and in proper moment.  In the end its about a strategic and wise management of our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits in order that we might compete to the full.  That’s a goal we all share.  None of us want to walk away from the arena of competition knowing we could have left something more on the court.  In the game of life this is especially true.  

Let’s stay focused.  

Bruce Lee Smith

www.bruceleesmith.co

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20. September 2011 by BruceSmith.

Life Thought: Step it!

Life Thought: 

He orders our steps, of this we are assured. The steps, yet, must still be taken. Many of those steps are over, through, and into difficulty. Our eyes must be kept on the promise even as the boots are dragged through the pits. Victory assured does not negate a vigorous battle.

bruceleesmith.co

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9. September 2011 by BruceSmith.

www.bruceleesmith.co
Printing of Life in 3D! The Superhero’s Guide to the Galaxy is about to begin! Stay tuned!! Know any teens? Know any college age peeps? Know any new Christians? Know any seekers? Know anyone wanting to live a bigger life? …if so, buy this book, seriously!
www.bruceleesmith.co

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6. September 2011 by BruceSmith.

Bruce Smith

The link for Bruce’s radio interview with Jeff Crouere on Ringside Politics has been moved to http://wgso.com/?cat=17… scroll over to the 3:02:30 mark for the segment

WGSO | Archive | Jeff Crouere

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6. September 2011 by BruceSmith.

Bruce Smith

Here is the link for my interview on Jeff Crouere’s radio show “Ringside Politics” today. go to the link and drag the fast forward button to the 3:02:30 mark to hear my interview segment on leadership, starbucks, howard schultz, and our cultural battle with truth. link:http://wgso.com/?cat=9

Enjoy and interact.

Bruce

www.bruceleesmith.co

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