I have a terrible attention span. I'm like the dog, Dug, in Up - there are so many squirrels in this world. So many things capture my attention - science and languages and people and food and...
It worked well for my career while I had great managers who can see when I was getting bored and moved me into new and challenging roles. But soon I ended up at companies where I wasn't so fortunately and my reach was constantly constrained in corporate boxes.
So I left and found founder-dom. Only I realized through my first "start-up" that just having an idea and a product aren't enough to either succeed or keep my attention.
For that I needed obsession. And obsession would come in the most unlikely (to me anyway) of places - parenthood.Â
Now I could focus on one piece of the puzzle endlessly. Jiggle it unless it gave. Move it around until it clicks satisfyingly into place.
And the key? Small things, done consistently.
Showing up everyday to tackle the most urgent thing in front of me. The one piece, that if figured out, would allow me to move on to the next challenge.
But without unlocking that piece? I would look up and see all the others in front of. I panic. I feel overwhelmed. I don't know what the point is.
And instead, I look back down to the piece I do have.Â
Tomorrow I show up to do the same.
And whether it's a startup or working my way up to running 10K, it's the only way I know to tame my great love story with the vastness of this world.
Little by little.