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The Power of Selective Focus And How Ignoring Most Things Can Make You More Successful
Image Courtesy of BMM
TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read)
How Much Time Do You Waste Each Day?: We waste hours on things that don’t push us toward success. Focus on fewer, higher impact tasks to move forward.
The Power of Selective Focus: The key to success isn’t doing more, it’s focusing on what matters most and ignoring distractions.
Why Multitasking Is a Myth: Multitasking reduces productivity. Focusing on one task at a time with intensity is where real progress happens.
What Should You Focus On?: Prioritize tasks that truly move the needle, such as high-leverage activities that directly affect your goals.
The 80/20 Rule: 80% of your success comes from 20% of your efforts. Focus on that 20% to maximize results.
How Much Time Do You Waste Each Day?
Let me ask you something…how much time do you waste on things that don’t matter?
Be honest.
I’m not talking about a couple of minutes scrolling through Instagram or watching Netflix.
I’m talking about the hours, days, and even years you spend focusing on things that do nothing to move you closer to your goals.
Most people think success is about working harder or doing more.
But the truth is that success is about doing less.
You need to learn selective focus.
The most successful people in the world aren’t doing everything. They’ve mastered the art of focusing on what matters and ruthlessly ignoring everything else.
And if you want to be successful, read this article to learn how to do it the same way rich people do.
The Power of Selective Focus
Look, I’m not saying hard work isn’t important.
You already know I’m all about discipline, grinding, and getting stuff done.
But the secret that no one talks about is where you put that energy.
You’ve got 24 hours in a day just like everyone else.
The difference between you and the people you look up to isn’t that they work 100 times harder, it’s that they focus on the right things.
Most people fill their days with busy work. They think staying “busy” is the same as being productive, but it’s not.
Real productivity comes from doing the right things consistently.
You don’t need to do more; you need to do less, but better.
Why Multitasking Is a Myth
You’ve probably heard that multitasking is a skill you need to succeed. But let me hit you with some truth, multitasking is bullsh*t.
Your brain isn’t wired to focus on multiple things at once.
When you try to do everything, you end up doing nothing well. You get distracted, you lose momentum, and your results suffer.
Research has proven that multitasking reduces productivity by as much as 40%.
That’s because switching between tasks wastes energy and mental bandwidth. Every time you shift focus, it takes time to get back into the zone.
Now think about how many times a day you switch between tasks.
Social media, emails, meetings, random interruptions...you’re cutting your productivity in half without even realizing it.
The key to success isn’t doing more, it’s doing one thing at a time, with laser focus.
When you lock in on a single task and give it everything you’ve got, you get into a state of flow. That’s where the magic happens.
What Should You Focus On?
Here’s the real question: If you’re supposed to ignore most things, how do you know what to focus on?
It’s simple. Focus on the things that actually move the needle.
There are certain things you can do that will have a much bigger impact on your success than others. In business, we call these high leverage activities.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to build an online business.
You could spend hours tweaking your website, designing logos, and writing your about pages.
But guess what? None of those things are going to make you money.
The activities that really move the needle are things like creating offers, closing sales, and scaling your traffic.
Those are the tasks that will make the biggest difference in your business, so that’s where your focus needs to be.
In your personal life, the same principle applies. If you’re trying to get in shape, you don’t need to waste time researching the latest fad diets or buying fancy supplements.
The things that will get you results are training hard, eating clean, and getting enough sleep.
Focus on the basics. Master the fundamentals.
The 80/20 Rule
If you want to know where to start, I’ve got a simple rule for you: the 80/20 rule.
This rule, also called the Pareto Principle, says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your actions.
That means most of what you’re doing isn’t getting you anywhere.
The key to success is identifying that 20% and doubling down on it.
Focus on the few things that are driving most of your progress, and ruthlessly cut out the rest.
For example, in business, 80% of your revenue probably comes from 20% of your clients or customers.
So instead of trying to please everyone, focus on those key relationships and scale them.
In fitness, 80% of your gains come from 20% of your habits.
If you’re training hard, eating well, and sleeping right, you’re already 80% of the way there.
Stop wasting time on supplements or complex workout routines. Focus on the fundamentals.
The 80/20 rule forces you to prioritize what really matters. When you start focusing on the right 20%, you’ll be amazed at how much faster you make progress.
Eliminate Distractions
You can’t focus if you’re constantly distracted. And in today’s world, distractions are everywhere. Social media, notifications, emails, they’re all pulling you away from the things that matter.
Let me be real with you for a second: You need to cut that sh*t out.
If you’re serious about leveling up, you need to get rid of the distractions that are stealing your time and focus. That means:
Turning off notifications on your phone.
Setting boundaries with people who interrupt your day.
Scheduling time blocks for focused work with zero distractions.
And yeah, that means cutting back on social media, too.
If you’re not using it to grow your business or improve your life, what are you doing? You can’t let Instagram likes or TikTok trends distract you from your bigger goals.
The most successful people don’t let distractions run their day. They’re focused, disciplined, and intentional with their time. And that’s exactly how you need to be.
Saying “No” Is Your Strongest Power
Ever see that Jim Carrey movie Yes Man? Yeah f*ck that movie.
Saying yes to everything is a one way ticket to nowhere.
Every time you say “yes” to something, you’re saying “no” to something else.
You only have so many hours in the day, and if you fill them with low value tasks, you’re sacrificing the things that really matter.
Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in the world, says his secret to success is that he says “no” to almost everything.
That’s because he knows his time is his most valuable asset, and he protects it fiercely.
You need to get comfortable saying “no.” If it doesn’t move you closer to your goals, if it’s not part of your 20%, if it’s not something you care about deeply, say no. Protect your focus.
How to Apply Selective Focus to Your Life
So how do you put this into practice? How do you actually use selective focus to become more successful?
Here’s what I want you to do:
Identify your high leverage activities. What are the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of your results? Get clear on what those things are and make them your priority.
Set boundaries. Get rid of distractions and create an environment where you can focus. This might mean setting strict work hours, turning off your phone, or working in a distraction free space.
Say no to everything else. If it doesn’t help you reach your goals, say no. Be ruthless with your time and energy.
Focus on one thing at a time. Stop trying to multitask. Pick one task, give it your full attention, and finish it before moving on to the next.
Review and adjust. Every week, review what’s working and what’s not. If something isn’t driving results, cut it out. If something is, double down.
The BMM Takeaway
Success isn’t about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things consistently.
It’s about focusing on what moves the needle and ignoring everything else.
When you master the power of selective focus, you’ll be amazed at how much faster you make progress.
You’ll stop wasting time on things that don’t matter, and you’ll start achieving your goals faster than you ever thought possible.
So stop trying to do it all. Stop getting distracted by the noise. And start focusing on the things that actually get you closer to the life you want.