Focus Fail - Its All About The Texture

Focus. It's a fantastic thing. 

Focus creates success.

Focus enhances productivity.

I believe so much I wrote about it here before.

But I’m learning…too late, I know…that I focus on the wrong thing…or too many things…or focus on stuff I have no control over. I also forget the point of focusing…to see the detail, the texture, that you otherwise would miss.

…after all, it’s that texture that gives close-up photos such interest, right? So why wouldn’t it give anything in life more interest?

Like… 

Focus on what you are able to fix, and repair it.  

I get paralyzed with fear/anxiety/whatever if I’m overwhelmed and focus on the anxiety, focus on all the problems or deadlines.  Instead, if I focus on one thing (like this weed), I can understand what the problem is, and understand how to solve it. 

And, while I focus on on it, I may find that it is much more textured than I thought…and some parts of the problem are actually strengths! I mean look at the crown of this dandelion. It’s beautiful…and look how the seeds are just waiting for the next wind to propel it to create something new…there’s a whole world of inventions waiting just based on that observation. I wouldn’t have even noticed it if I treated the whole weed as a problem and just pulled it.

Focus on the beauty next to you, not the flaws

See the missing flower pedals? Me too. I actually tried to find a photo with only open flowers and no ‘flaws’. But now I look at it and think, “How beautiful are those flowers…and even more beautiful with the texture of the ‘finished flowers’"

I can’t control when the wind comes, when the rain will knock down these pedals, but I can choose to cherish the scent, the colors, and the textures of what I do have in my life right now.  I mean how awesome is it to have 4 kids and a wife in a beautiful home and land? Why should pressures at work, fears of ‘being valued’ matter when I’m next to them?

Focus on emerging opportunities

I could predict what will happen to these flower buds, but why? I should focus on where they are at in their journey now…just like I should focus on the journey my new opportunity is taking so I can learn, grow, and become a better person from it. Could the emerging opportunity go sideways? Not turn out like I thought? Sure. Most likely will. But I can find the good and the growth in it anyway…and it shouldn’t for one minute distract my focus from WHY I’m taking the opportunity (to be a better person, husband, believer, father, writer, musician…).

Focus on strengths, experience, and value

I’m turning into an ‘old-timer’. Just like this old bench, I’ve had many experiences that shape who I am today. I’ve got strengths that provide unique value. However, I tend to focus on how I’m different from all the new folks….how I’m not so polished. I should cherish that difference. Be confident in what value I provide that compliments the value others provide. 

Focus on Random Beauty

This is a budding Sumac. This will last all of 3 days until the leaves unfold. I never noticed it before, but it’s awesome. Instead of focusing on how the sumac is moving across our prairie and could take over more of our park than I want, at least for a while I can focus on the beauty it brings…how it stands confidently and almost gives a middle finger to whatever tries to get in its way. Maybe something to learn from.

Focus on Doing Things Differently

I know it’s a popular saying, but it seems to fit for me. If I try to be somebody else, or try to do things the way others do it, I don’t do it as well (whether it’s speaking, designing, playing guitar, etc). While the path may suggest to do it one way, if I do it different, like create my own arch over the path, I may annoy some, but I may create something beautiful that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.

Focus on the Beauty All Around You

I’ve built an awesome life (like this awesome pond I built with my Dad). While some folks have their life planned out, mine seems to have fallen haphazardly into place through a thousand little decisions (and a couple big ones) that created the unique journey resulting in what we have now.

It’s beautiful. Wife, Kids, Home, Church, Music, Travel, Dog (damn dog), all of it…beautiful.

Perfect? Nope. There are rocks and rapids, and some rotten things flapping in the stream, but all of it adds texture. Gives it interest. Creates the compelling story.

Which comes back to focus on the texture.

It’s the texture that brings interest. 

It’s the texture that makes something beautiful.

So here’s to this awesome life…filled with texture…I shouldn’t wish it any other way.  

Opportunity-Driven Employer - A Culver’s Shoutout

My oldest works at Culver’s, and has for a couple years.. One of my daughters just applied, interviewed, and was hired the same day.

I am extremely grateful to this local business for taking the chance on my two kids.

But my main question is: Why?

Why would Culver’s take kids with no skills, spend money to train them, and depend on these kids to be the front-line to represent their company to customers? What kind of thinking, or leader, creates this culture? I mean, the place I work is filled with pressure to deliver...to impact the business…and to show how you’re impacting the business on a weekly basis. In a nutshell the culture where I work reflects, "what have you done for me?” model.

But Culver's seems different. It’s culture seems to focus on, “How can we provide opportunity for you”, or "how can we help our community become better by creating well-rounded, dependable workers?”. From my view, the mission of Culver's is to find kids who are eager to try new things, take on challenges, learn, work hard, and give them a chance to grow into great employees.

What did this culture give our family?

For my oldest, it gave him a place to prove himself, to call his own, to be responsible, even a chance to learn that unpleasant consequences happen if you don’t think through your responsibility. He has grown so much. Now that he’s heading off to Basic Training, Culver’s is not only supporting his decision but is offering him a place to expand his responsibilities when he returns.

When my daughter applied and interviewed, they recognized that because of my oldest’s character, when my daughter interviewed, all she had to say was “My brother works here”, and their instant impression of her rose.

I’m so proud of my son…it speaks volumes for any employer to say, “We like Cole”, and to take his work ethic as reason enough to consider a new, eager-to-work but unskilled girl and train her.

I’m so proud of my daughter…for starting her path to independence...flapping her wings…and getting a job on her own. She’s got goals set, and identifies what she needs to do to reach them.

Does Culver’s get tough? Absolutely. They need to. They are working with young men and women who sometimes have never had to be responsible for anything and are molding them to be productive members of the team...

…but at the same time, they are providing a service to our community I still can’t get my head around: They have NO BUSINESS REASON to use this labor force. I’m sure some would say it’s all you get for minimum wage workers, but there’s something different … at least about this Culver’s (South side of Rochester, MN).

It’s like they have a hidden agenda:

That while they look like they spend each day crafting and making Butter Burgers and Custard, their true purpose is to craft and make productive, hard-working, and character-driven members of the community…and the food part is just the way to keep the education, training, and character-building going.

Thank you, Culver’s. From a grateful Dad.