This week, I read about Christmas celebrations a hundred
years ago. Back then, most families lived on farms or in
small towns and Christmas was a much bigger event, but a
much quieter one.
As often happens, that got me pondering. It occurred to me
that for thousands of years, humans lived in a very quiet
world. For the vast majority of human history, music
happened when someone sang around the camp fire.
Entertainment was watching children act out a play, or
listening to an old-timer tell stories from the old days.
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
explored our world. Because our brain automatically notices
and wants to 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 invented tools that made life better.
Eventually, we invented musical instruments and then
orchestras so we could all sing and dance. Then, one day,
some particularly bright and curious guy named Edison
invented the phonograph and parents have been telling
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 new things 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 play-lists, and billions of websites. Our
homes are filled with 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 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 are pressured to have and do so
many things! We "have to" track the news, run errands,
answer our email, shuttle the kids to school and get to
work. We "have to" cope with never-ending demands for our
attention.
This is not your Grandmother's world!
The evolutionary part of our brain that made our world
possible may now 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 every bright, shiny object 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. In this Age
of Distraction, all the "new and improved" things around us
conspire to undermine our peace of mind, our focus, our
productivity and, eventually, our achievement.
In the Age of Distraction, 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 a few priorities and stick with them. High
achievers know how to do this! So should you.
years ago. Back then, most families lived on farms or in
small towns and Christmas was a much bigger event, but a
much quieter one.
As often happens, that got me pondering. It occurred to me
that for thousands of years, humans lived in a very quiet
world. For the vast majority of human history, music
happened when someone sang around the camp fire.
Entertainment was watching children act out a play, or
listening to an old-timer tell stories from the old days.
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
explored our world. Because our brain automatically notices
and wants to 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 invented tools that made life better.
Eventually, we invented musical instruments and then
orchestras so we could all sing and dance. Then, one day,
some particularly bright and curious guy named Edison
invented the phonograph and parents have been telling
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 new things 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 play-lists, and billions of websites. Our
homes are filled with 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 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 are pressured to have and do so
many things! We "have to" track the news, run errands,
answer our email, shuttle the kids to school and get to
work. We "have to" cope with never-ending demands for our
attention.
This is not your Grandmother's world!
The evolutionary part of our brain that made our world
possible may now 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 every bright, shiny object 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. In this Age
of Distraction, all the "new and improved" things around us
conspire to undermine our peace of mind, our focus, our
productivity and, eventually, our achievement.
In the Age of Distraction, 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 a few priorities and stick with them. High
achievers know how to do this! So should you.
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