Are you Distracted?

In the midst of a global pandemic, when nearly everything is on lock-down, one thing hasn’t disappeared. Distraction can still be found around every corner! Bombarding…incessant…never-ending. Energy-draining…seducing… faster, faster, faster…endless spinning distraction!

Think of your car in mid-winter…slipping, sliding, gas-down, brake-on, white-knuckled. You’re wanting progress, needing progress, but there’s little progress and no traction – only dis-traction! So much effort and energy expended, but with little--or no--movement.

Many small business leaders are lacking traction in the leadership of their inner life, their business, and home. Even in the midst of the pandemic when normal activity may have slowed down, we can still get caught in the whirlwind of a thousand demands, invitations and opportunities...and capacity to focus on things that matter most becomes limited. Sound familiar? 

Dis-traction…keeping you from focusing on what matters most. 

As a Christ-following small business leader, you must decide to live a focused life. If you do not deliberately focus your life at work and at home on what matters most, dis-traction (living life without traction) will “have your lunch” every time!!

Whatever you focus on will grow! Focus on negative, unhealthy, undisciplined thoughts or practices and they will grow and become habit. Focus on life-giving, Christ-centered thinking as you lead yourself, your home, and business and you will grow a life characterized by the qualities of the Kingdom of God. Which one is your focus?

Here are 5 Focus-Stealers--dis-tractions--that can significantly diminish your capacity to lead yourself and your team well:

1. Lack of “soul care”. If you are not proactively experiencing God as you live out what is in front of you day-to-day, you will compromise your ability to focus on what matters most. Empty on the inside, you will not have what is needed to lead yourself, your team, and your family well. Matthew 22:34-40 NLT

2. Keeping bad company is a serious distraction. Your capacity to navigate the real pressures of leading yourself, your business, your home and more is dramatically impacted by the character of the people in your “inner circle”. 1 Corinthians 15:33

4. Being lured by things of this world. Godly focus as a leader requires deliberate focus on things that will move you toward God and His kingdom. Luke 9:25 NLT

5. Unclear priorities. If everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. Without clear priorities, you will not be able to focus your God-given talent and resources on the most important things. James 1:5-7 NLT

6. A weak “No” muscle. In a world of overwhelming choices, you must grow your “No” muscle. Saying “Yes” to everything will mean saying “No” to the most important things. Matthew 5:37 NLT

The relentless pressing demands of profit & loss statements, team conflict resolution, client needs, sales targets, family needs, self-care, soul care…they can be overwhelming.

Jesus powerfully reminded his guys of what mattered most while in the press. Confused, with no real idea of what was coming the next day, he wonderfully invited them to FOCUS on what mattered most--trusting Him. 

How are you doing in receiving Jesus’ invitation to focus and take heart…to focus on Him in the midst of the many trials and sorrows that have, and will, come your way?

What you focus on grows!! How about you? Are you focused on what matters most?

A Deliberate Application:

1. Describe your sense of being able to focus on what’s most important? Are you encouraged? Maybe discouraged?

2. Which of the 5 Focus-Stealers has tripped you up in your leadership of self and others? What has been the impact?

3. What are you sensing God ask of you regarding your longing for traction…for focus in your life?

4. Who can you share this with?