Weekly Thought – October 13, 2026
Fred went through a “biker phase.” He bought a BMW touring bike and enjoyed early morning (4am) rides to local coffee shops where others gathered. He never entered into their conversations, but enjoyed listening to their stories. Fred’s interest in the way people thought never waned. And he never gave up his desire for donuts in the wee hours.
Blue Hot Living
Intensity is the secret of accomplishment. The welding torch has always been a good illustration for me. You have to turn the flame down to blue hot before it will successfully weld.
Many talented people never get their torch to welding temperature because they mistake working hard for accomplishment. Intensity comes when you understand which parts of the job are the keys. Putting equal value on each task sacrifices energy and effectiveness. Identifying the critical tasks is the hallmark of producers.
A top executive with a large natural resources company told me priority setting and pride are the two most difficult aspects to control. We can be pulled off focus by both of these. For example, ego activities can distract us. “Fred, I am accepting no more public awards,” said a ministry leader. It wasn’t humility, but pragmatism. He knew which diversions kept him away from the intensity he needs to complete his ministry work. Few of us can turn down these kinds of ego satisfaction to stay on task.
To maintain focus I always ask myself: 1) Is this what I am really about? 2) What am I trying to do? 3) What concept am I trying to accomplish?
I don’t let other people’s opinions turn my attention. Sometimes when I am working “in the zone,” a friend calls to tell me, “Smith, you are working too hard – let’s go play golf.” I can’t allow the siren call of the links to capture me. The only way I can protect myself against this is by maintaining a mental picture of what the focus of my activity is supposed to be, and what I am attempting to achieve. Keeping the goal in mind keeps me from distraction.
Think about: 1) What pulls me off task? 2) What helps me identify the vital tasks? 3) Who is a role model for focused living?
Words of Wisdom: “Putting equal value on each task sacrifices energy and effectiveness.”
Words of Wisdom: “Brothers and sisters I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded; Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13 NET Bible)