The Art of Singular Focus

Embrace the boring; embrace the focus.

The weekend!

A time for relaxation, reflection, and a bit of creative pondering.

Let’s dive into a tantalising thought experiment:

What if you decided to make absolutely everything in your life a slave to one singular goal?

Yes, you heard me right—no fluff, no distractions, just pure, unadulterated focus on what you’re truly passionate about.

Now, let’s face it: as middle-aged artists, we don't have the luxury of time to fluff around.

We've got responsibilities, bills, and maybe even a couple of kids who think they can run the world.

That means every hour counts, and every moment wasted on distractions is a moment we could've spent honing our craft.

So, imagine this: You’re a singer-songwriter, and instead of getting lost in the rabbit hole of learning every intricate detail of Ableton or perfecting those guitar riffs (which, let’s be honest, might never be up to the level of Jimi Hendrix), you simply write songs. Just songs. Every day. You wake up, grab your coffee, and let the music flow. Wouldn’t that be liberating?

Or consider this scenario: You’ve set a goal to launch your video channel by December. Now, instead of spending five blissful hours painting—which, let’s face it, is a lovely distraction—you dedicate every spare moment to creating awesome content for that channel. You could be the next YouTube sensation, but only if you channel your energy into what truly matters!

And then there’s the beatmaker dilemma.

You whip up beats like a chef with a new recipe—delicious, fresh, and oh-so-tempting. But if you’re not putting in the effort to sell them, what’s the point? It’s like cooking a gourmet meal and then tossing it in the trash. Let’s not waste those tasty beats; serve them up to the world!

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on those artists you admire.

They seem to possess this magical momentum, don’t they? You know how they got there?

Focus.

It’s not some mystical force or secret potion;

it’s simply honing in on what they want and going all in.

“But wait,” you might say, “isn’t focus boring?” Sure, it can feel a bit monotonous. But here’s the twist: once you start seeing results, once your passion begins to bloom, that boring focus turns into exhilarating momentum. It’s like watching your paint dry—until you realise it’s a masterpiece!

So, here’s my challenge to you this weekend:

Strip away the distractions, decide on that one goal, and let it consume you.

As middle-aged artists, we can't afford to waste time; we need to maximise every moment. You might just discover that the path to your creative success doesn’t require juggling a dozen different projects. Sometimes, all you need is a single, shining focus to illuminate your way.

Embrace the boring; embrace the focus. Who knows? You might just find yourself on an exhilarating adventure that takes your art—and your life—to places you never imagined possible.