During a year-end functions that I attended this past December, I was put on the spot with an unexpected invitation to come forward and share a “word of wisdom” for the new-year. It had been a fairly light, joyful evening, devoid of speeches. I was not sure why the moderator picked on me, but I felt honored.
I had only a couple of minutes to think about what to say. I could choose to play safe and say something trivial or make people laugh with some jokes, but something told me that I should use the moment to reflect on something serious and meaningful.
In such moments, I have often found it useful to imagine speaking to myself rather than adopt the posture of an authority speaking to an audience from a pedestal. I decided to frame my remarks around a question with which I had been grappling that very week: What would I need to do differently in the New Year to make it a year of significance and progress? This was a safe question that I thought would resonate with most of the people gathered there. My answer to the question was a simple five letter word: FOCUS.
Mastering the discipline of focus was the one goal that I would try to achieve in 2024. In our increasingly complex world of constant distractions and demands, maintaining focus had been a challenge for me in 2023, and I believe for many other people.
External and internal distractions can keep a person busy going around in circles or running on the spot. The countless hours that we spend fighting fires that don’t need to be fought, or watching mindless posts on social media sap our energies and keep us from making the strides that we should be making.
Many dreams, careers, academic pursuits and good intentions represented in that hall that evening had gotten derailed simply for lack of focus. I was certain about that. I was also certain that many of the people in that audience would be making New Year resolutions and setting goals that, unfortunately, would be abandoned because of distractions that would come along the way.
As I stood there at the back of the hall, waiting to be called forward, it was clear to me that this talk was more about me than about them. It was affirming my resolution to be more intentional in managing how I was going to use my time in the New Year. I had resolved that I would consciously reduce time-wasters that distract my focus from my personal and professional goals. I was going to create a work environment that would enable me to minimizing interruptions when focusing on essential tasks. I was also determined to shut off non-essential notifications on my devices and establish designated periods for checking messages, returning phone calls and answering emails.
The moderator finished making some introductions and acknowledgements and then asked me to come forward. He introduced me with glowing words that made me cringe as I walked toward him. The people applauded as I got to the podium and took the microphone. There was an intensity in the room that made me uncomfortable.
I was still not completely settled on how to frame my remarks. I took a deep breath and smiled, trying to look relaxed and at ease. But I was suddenly nervous. I’m not sure why. Maybe I was trying too hard to make an impression. I cleared my throat and adjusted the microphone slowly. I was buying a bit of time as I psyched myself.
“Good evening everyone,” I started. And suddenly it happened. Just then, the lights went off, plunging the hall into total darkness. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. I stood still, waiting for a generator or some other backup system to kick in. NOTHING!
The crowd became restlessness with people talking over each other. Several of them turned on their mobile phone flash lights, adding an eeriness to an unfolding chaos. Someone knocked over a bar table, sending glasses crashing to the floor. A lady screamed at the back of the room and almost triggered a stampede. They started scrambling for the exit. Then, as suddenly as they had gone out, the lights came back on. There was an audible sigh of relief, but it was too late. The event was over. Just like that. It was over.
My moment had passed. My good intention; my well thought out “words of wisdom” for that evening had been derailed by an unexpected force. That brief blackout not only scuttled my audience, but it also succeeded in replacing my optimistic disposition with a flood of negative emotions. I was angry. At the same time, I felt like I was being tested.
As I slowly stepped down from the stage, I wondered if there was a lesson in there somewhere. How do I remain true to my own message and keep my focus when faced with such disappointment? I mulled over this question for a moment and, as I got into the car, I had made up my mind. Not all was lost. I would go home, write a short article and post it on LinkedIn . Happy New Year, everyone.
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