determination

When Focus Is Essential

When Focus Is Essential

Consider this lesson from the jeweler's loupe…


I'm sure you've seen a jeweler's loupe before. A loupe is a handheld monocular device that allows the jeweler to inspect a jewel with greater clarity and precision due to the magnification it provides. A jeweler may look into a 10x loupe to judge the quality of the gem and look into a 30x loupe to inspect tiny cracks, blemishes, and imperfections.


Whichever magnification the jeweler chooses, one thing remains consistent -- a jeweler gets an up-close, focused, and undistracted view of the jewel. Every other visible facet of the outside world is filtered out, and the jeweler's attention can be focused and fixed on the subject at hand. The jeweler can set, repair, or improve upon the gem with that perspective.


Can you imagine if you had that same kind of focus on your goals?

Is your dream worth it!?

Is your dream worth it!?

I have always loved this quote. I love it more now than ever. But, unfortunately, we live in a culture where there is an increasing expectation of experiencing success without putting in the work. And well -- that just doesn't work. It never has, and it never will.

We will never experience success apart from putting in the work because the work, the grit, and the effort itself are non-negotiable ingredients of success.

I love to make homemade deep-dish pizza from time to time. My pizza is incredible if I do say so myself. But imagine if I invited you over to my house to treat you to some of my amazing deep-dish pizza, and I decided to make it without mozzarella cheese. Anybody I know who loves excellent pizza knows that mozzarella cheese is a non-negotiable and necessary ingredient. You might eat it with a smile on your face, but on the inside, you would be saying to yourself, "What is Bill thinking? This isn't deep-dish pizza. He forgot the cheese!" And you would be right.