Focus (2013) is a guidebook for nurturing today’s scarcest resource: attention. Using cutting-edge research, the book reveals that sharpening our focus in a world of endless distractions is the key to professional success and personal fulfillment. What makes Goleman’s contribution special is that the book expands the definition of “focus” beyond mere concentration and calls for a mindful life in which attention is paid to the self, to others and to the planet.
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and a former science journalist for the New York Times and the author of 13 books, including the bestseller Emotional Intelligence. He also lectures frequently for professionals and student groups.
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Start free trialFocus (2013) is a guidebook for nurturing today’s scarcest resource: attention. Using cutting-edge research, the book reveals that sharpening our focus in a world of endless distractions is the key to professional success and personal fulfillment. What makes Goleman’s contribution special is that the book expands the definition of “focus” beyond mere concentration and calls for a mindful life in which attention is paid to the self, to others and to the planet.
Have you ever felt that being easily distracted is holding you back from improving your skills, doing better work and living a more fulfilling life?
Our lives are filled with potential distractions: your smartphone, email, even your thoughts about where you’ll take your next vacation. As you let your attention become increasingly scattered by such distractions, you impair your ability to do your work on time and to do it well.
Yet author Daniel Goleman goes beyond the narrow definition of “focus” to present a guidebook for living a focused life, according to which we can gain a richer, fuller existence by paying attention to ourselves, to others and to larger contexts, like our planet and the future.
Drawing from a well of countless real-life examples, Focus provides many ways for the reader to enhance their level of attention, including practicing mindfulness, positive thinking and engaging in focused preparation.
In these blinks you’ll learn why letting your mind wander can lead you to great insights but also hinder you in accomplishing your goals.
You’ll find out why the best quality for a leader is not the ability to keep their eyes on the prize, but actually self-awareness or empathy.
You’ll discover how to train your willpower like a muscle and how if you do something you love, seeing it through to completion requires much less effort.
Finally, you’ll learn why when you’re stressed and can’t think straight, having a positive attitude will make a massive difference.