Focus
WNBF Lightweight
If you watch horse racing you may notice that sometimes horse trainers and jockeys will make their horses wear blinkers, often called blinders, during the race. Yes, at least one horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby wore blinkers during the race. Burnham Square, trained by Ian Wilkes, was known to wear blinkers in his races, including the Derby. Blinkers are a type of equipment used in horse racing to limit a horse’s field of vision. They are designed to help horses focus on the goal, that is directly in front of them, potentially improving their concentration and performance. It is a simple tool with an enormous impact, much like how humans benefit from cutting out distractions to stay focused on their own goals.
Think about us. We all have goals both professional and personal. Higher education, raising a family, buying a house and retirement may be included among those goals. However, remember that a goal is more than just a dream—something you wish would happen. Real goals involve planning, flexibility, and good, old-fashioned hard work. Goals can be short-range (taking days or weeks to accomplish), medium range (months), and long-range (a year or more). Long-range goals can be reached through a series of intermediate goals sometimes called milestones. Just as Burnham Square wore blinders to help him focus on the goal of winning races, focusing on our goals without distractions is also important because it:
Increases Productivity: When you minimize distractions, you get more done in less time, making steady progress toward your goals.
Improves Quality of Work: Deep focus allows you to think more clearly and work more thoroughly, leading to better results.
Builds Momentum: Staying focused helps you maintain motivation and rhythm, making it easier to keep going and reach milestones.
Reduces Stress: Constantly switching tasks or dealing with interruptions can be mentally exhausting. Focus helps you stay calm and organized.
Strengthens Discipline: Training your mind to focus builds self-control and resilience—skills that are useful in all areas of life.
Helps Achieve Long-Term Vision: Distractions can pull you off course. Focus keeps you aligned with your larger purpose and vision.
In short, focus turns intentions into results. Without it, even the best plans can drift into inaction. In my years of competitive bodybuilding, I found that focus was critical, both mentally and physically. When I think about the goal setting, being at a conditioned 154 pounds in under 18 weeks, training precision, daily routines, long-term consistency, diet and nutrition adherence and peak performance on stage; It was my focus on the end goal, minus distractions, that turned hard work into visible results.
Setting and focusing on both personal and professional goals offers numerous benefits, including increased motivation, a clearer sense of purpose, improved decision-making, and a boost in self-confidence. They help individuals align their daily actions with their bigger aspirations, leading to greater overall well-being and success.
Goals provide a clear roadmap, guiding individuals towards their desired outcomes. This clarity helps individuals make better decisions and prioritize their time and energy. We all know how good it feels to mark a milestone or goal as complete!
Yes—focus is essential in life. It is one of the most powerful tools for achieving personal growth, success, and fulfillment. In a world full of noise, the ability to focus is a superpower. It is how you create a life that reflects your values—not just your distractions. So, what distractions do you need to get rid of to focus on your goals?
Take care of yourself and each other!
