Why Multitasking Makes You Ordinary. Instead Be Extraordinary with the F word.
Even an hour of deep, focused work a day can produce extraordinary results.
Kevin Ham
The world encourages you to multitask and get lots of things done. This results in 'shallow' work over sustained, focused, 'deep' work that can give rise to something extraordinary.
Einstein focused for over a decade on trying to solve the problem of time and energy. Isaac Newton invested years obsessively focused on a few key problems, writing Principia Mathematica in the 1680s, which delivered the three laws of motion. Most people never dedicate themselves fully to one pursuit.
The most powerful F word most people think of is a four letter word. But there is a more powerful F word with five letters. It also has the letters U and C, but no K. A lack of it makes the day blurry, caused by constant distractions, newsfeeds, notifications, and busy work. It prevents us from dedicated, focused, deep work towards a single vision. Even an hour of deep work each day over a period of time can produce remarkable results over years, decades and your lifetime.
During the COVID pandemic, I decided to ride my bike every day for 30 days--either 30 km or 300m of elevation (a small mountain climb). It was about an hour a day. After a month, I was tired but was super fit, having ridden almost 1000 km in a month. I kept that up but with rest days and rode an average distance of 7,700 km and elevation of 100,000m every year for three years. In 2022, I was in the best shape of my life. I could ride 110 km in four hours on one bottle of water and one energy bar. Now, I maintain my fitness by riding more focused at 3500 km a year. My 100-year-old goal is to ride 100 km like Robert Marchand. He lived to be 109 years old and is the world record holder for fastest 100 km ride and distance cycled in one hour, for the 100–104 and over 105 age categories. He likely had very little competition at that age :).
But Multitasking Allows You to Accomplish Multiple Things at Once.
Ordinary is average. Extraordinary is special. Just takes an ounce of thought and a pound of application.
Dr. Kevin Ham
I used to think multitasking allowed me to accomplish much, but Dr. Alan Barnard had us do an exercise. Write down the numbers 1-10 then the letters A-J in order and time yourself. Next, write 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D, 5E to 10J and time yourself.
Writing 1-10 took me less than 2 seconds, and A-J took me 2 seconds. The total time was 3.55 seconds, but counting 1A-10J took me 10 seconds, which is 2.5 times longer.
When I memorize one chapter of Proverbs, it feels good and flows. When I try to memorize two chapters at once, I feel stressed. I get confused between the chapters, and it takes me longer, and I forget easier.
What's your experience?
Try the number/letter test. Next, expand that 1-26, A-Z. Then, add a circle, triangle, square as a third task. Then, add a fourth task—the time it takes compounds as more tasks are woven in.
Yes, you can talk and drive. But texting and driving? Forget it. Don't do it because you need to focus on your driving.
If you just set aside a dedicated time to filter out all the distractions, notifications, and thoughts and focus on doing deep work for one thing, it is incredible what you can accomplish.
Think … Just Think.
Of all the beautiful gifts we have, the ability to think is the greatest, next to love and to forgive.
Dr. Kevin Ham
Think and Grow Rich is one of the perennial best-sellers written by Napoleon Hill. The key word here is "Think". I almost think the title should be "Think, then you will grow ____ (fill in your word of choice here … rich, smart, fit, wise).
One of my mentors, Bob Proctor, told a pro golf player that if he wanted to improve, he needed to focus his attention on being able to focus. He asked the golfer to put a dot on the wall and stare at it for five minutes without losing focus on the dot. He said most people cannot stare even five minutes without their mind wandering. Then, increase the time each day. He would be successful when he could focus an hour on the dot. Then, he was told to apply that skill to each aspect of his golf game.
90% of my time, I like to think, then write my thoughts down, and then plan a path for my thoughts to come alive. Most are stillborn. Some are born. Few make it to adulthood. Very few reproduce offspring. Earl Nightingale, the father of personal growth, said that 95% of people do not think, 5% think they think but only 2% of people really think. I did not understand this because I thought I thought, but the question is, what are you really thinking about? The more I thought about my thoughts, the deeper my thinking became.
The problems that arise in life, like the waves and the stormy weather, not only give rise to emotions but also allow you to think. "Necessity is the mother of invention."
So think about your thinking, for you become what you think about.
Life Question:
What is your most important focus in life?
Focus is like a magnifying glass that makes sunlight start a fire.
Dr. Kevin Ham
Most people don't really know the answer to this question. Find one thing you'd like to focus on for the next month.
Put 10 minutes to one hour a day devoted without distractions on your most important focus for the next 30 days and see. Then persist and continue for the rest of the year and see. Then let me know the results in 30 days and each month.
Schedule this like an appointment in your calendar. Then tell your family and network that you have focused time for this period you blocked out, and then keep that appointment.
Guaranteed to be life-changing.
Next week:
You have the will but lack the discipline to accomplish your dreams. Why?
Our brains are wired for short-term gratification while dreaming of happily ever after without effort.
See you next Thursday!
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