This week, I read about Christmas celebrations a hundred
years ago, at the turn of the last century. Back then, most
families lived on farms or in small towns and Christmas was
a much bigger event, but a very different one than today.
I remembered my Grandfather talking about how much he
looked forward to getting an orange all the way from
years ago, at the turn of the last century. Back then, most
families lived on farms or in small towns and Christmas was
a much bigger event, but a very different one than today.
I remembered my Grandfather talking about how much he
looked forward to getting an orange all the way from
a far town each Christmas. I remember how his
eyes lit up at the memory and I think that was every bit as
exciting as a child getting a bright, shiny electronic
gadget today.
And, that got me pondering. It occurred to me that for
thousands of years, humans lived in a very quiet world. For
most of human history, music happened only when someone
sang around the camp fire. Entertainment meant watching
children act out a play, or listening to someone tell tall
tales.
Through all that history, humans evolved in large part
because we were intensely curious and quickly seized on
anything new or different. Because of our attraction to
bright shiny objects, humans discovered new things and
began to explore our world. Because our brain automatically
notices and wants to pick up and play with anything new or
interesting, we invented stuff and life got better.
Slowly, we learned to master our world. We observed nature
and learned to fish and farm, to breed animals and feed
ourselves. We began to invent tools that made life better
and more comfortable. Eventually, we even invented musical
instruments and then orchestras so we could all sing and
dance. Then, one day, a bright guy named Thomas Edison
invented the phonograph and parents have been telling their
teenagers to "turn that thing down!" ever since.
Life as we know it was invented by our curiosity and
attraction to bright, shiny objects!
For thousands of years, the part of our brain that notices
and wants to grab hold of things, and "have one of my own"
has served us well. Back when our world was mostly silent
and very drab, when life was dull and (too often) painfully
short, curiosity made progress possible. Good for us!
But what about today? Today we live with dozens of
television channels, hundreds of radio stations, thousands
of songs on our personal play-lists, and billions of
websites. Our homes are filled with thousands of bright,
shiny objects, from tools and toys, to laundry that needs
done and dishes that need washing. How may papers and
projects are stacked on your desk as you read this? How
many emails are in your inbox? How many errands and tasks
do you "have to" complete this week?
Once, our natural curiosity and desire for variety served
us very well. It made life better. I'm not sure that's true
today.
Today, we are flooded with distractions. We live in "the
Age of Distraction!" We feel pressure to have and do so
many things! We "have to" track the news, run errands,
answer email, shuttle the kids to school and home again. We
"have to" cope with never-ending demands for our attention.
This is not your Grandfather's world!
The evolutionary part of our brain that made our world
possible may be sabotaging us. Once, being the first person
in your family to read and write, or being the first person
to understand the Industrial Revolution and build a sawmill
or buy a tractor made you rich, but today being attracted
by all the bright, shiny objects in our world can literally
drive us crazy!
Today, the challenge is to focus on a few things and stick
with them. Today, success is about being able to choose
wisely, make commitments and avoid distraction. Today, we
live in the Age of Distraction when all the "new and
improved" things around us actually undermine our peace of
mind, our focus, our productivity and our achievement.
In the Age of Distraction, the key to success is being able
to resist the evolutionary desire to grab hold of every new
thing. This is hard and goes against our natural
tendencies. It takes determination and uncommon discipline
to live simply, to choose one or two priorities and stick
with them. High achievers know how to do this! So should
you.
eyes lit up at the memory and I think that was every bit as
exciting as a child getting a bright, shiny electronic
gadget today.
And, that got me pondering. It occurred to me that for
thousands of years, humans lived in a very quiet world. For
most of human history, music happened only when someone
sang around the camp fire. Entertainment meant watching
children act out a play, or listening to someone tell tall
tales.
Through all that history, humans evolved in large part
because we were intensely curious and quickly seized on
anything new or different. Because of our attraction to
bright shiny objects, humans discovered new things and
began to explore our world. Because our brain automatically
notices and wants to pick up and play with anything new or
interesting, we invented stuff and life got better.
Slowly, we learned to master our world. We observed nature
and learned to fish and farm, to breed animals and feed
ourselves. We began to invent tools that made life better
and more comfortable. Eventually, we even invented musical
instruments and then orchestras so we could all sing and
dance. Then, one day, a bright guy named Thomas Edison
invented the phonograph and parents have been telling their
teenagers to "turn that thing down!" ever since.
Life as we know it was invented by our curiosity and
attraction to bright, shiny objects!
For thousands of years, the part of our brain that notices
and wants to grab hold of things, and "have one of my own"
has served us well. Back when our world was mostly silent
and very drab, when life was dull and (too often) painfully
short, curiosity made progress possible. Good for us!
But what about today? Today we live with dozens of
television channels, hundreds of radio stations, thousands
of songs on our personal play-lists, and billions of
websites. Our homes are filled with thousands of bright,
shiny objects, from tools and toys, to laundry that needs
done and dishes that need washing. How may papers and
projects are stacked on your desk as you read this? How
many emails are in your inbox? How many errands and tasks
do you "have to" complete this week?
Once, our natural curiosity and desire for variety served
us very well. It made life better. I'm not sure that's true
today.
Today, we are flooded with distractions. We live in "the
Age of Distraction!" We feel pressure to have and do so
many things! We "have to" track the news, run errands,
answer email, shuttle the kids to school and home again. We
"have to" cope with never-ending demands for our attention.
This is not your Grandfather's world!
The evolutionary part of our brain that made our world
possible may be sabotaging us. Once, being the first person
in your family to read and write, or being the first person
to understand the Industrial Revolution and build a sawmill
or buy a tractor made you rich, but today being attracted
by all the bright, shiny objects in our world can literally
drive us crazy!
Today, the challenge is to focus on a few things and stick
with them. Today, success is about being able to choose
wisely, make commitments and avoid distraction. Today, we
live in the Age of Distraction when all the "new and
improved" things around us actually undermine our peace of
mind, our focus, our productivity and our achievement.
In the Age of Distraction, the key to success is being able
to resist the evolutionary desire to grab hold of every new
thing. This is hard and goes against our natural
tendencies. It takes determination and uncommon discipline
to live simply, to choose one or two priorities and stick
with them. High achievers know how to do this! So should
you.
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