When I get an idea for an article, I jot it down, one per page, on one of the many 5×7 tablets strewn about my office, house, and car before it gets squeezed out of my brain by the next thought. Thus, I have a large stack of 5×7 papers in my file cabinet ready to peruse when I have time to write.

Today’s pick: a one-word sheet. A powerful word. One-wordsheets are rare and usually met with “huh?” and the recycling bin. Not today.“Focus” needs no supporting cast.

Focus lets us:

• See clearly
• Clarify our thoughts, objectives, and questions
• Tune out distractions 
• Hear, and understand, others
• Make progress by leaps and bounds, not inches
• Solve complex problems
• Develop deep understanding
• Invest our time and other resources for maximum impact
• Feel in control, with confidence, and  without guilt
• Achieve our goals

Focus also lets us defocus. Intentionally. Relax. Wander. Innovate. Adapt. And refocus.

But this wired world does not encourage focus. On the contrary, it reduces ideas to shallow sound bites and segments our time into tiny intervals.

Value focus! Find focus! Remove obstacles to focus!  Practice focus! Before you simply lose your ability to focus altogether.