There’s an old saying: “Keep your mouth shut, and your eyes on the prize.” Doing so would place you 98 percent ahead of everyone else on this planet. People often believe they lack focus. That is incorrect. People have a great ability to focus, they just often focus on things that are unhealthy and unproductive for them. If someone offered you $100 million to drive 500 miles at 2 a.m. in your pajamas, you wouldn’t struggle to concentrate — you’d be out the door. The problem isn’t the ability to focus. It’s what we choose to focus on.

If you want to succeed, you need to not just focus, but laser focus on the things and people that you say are truly important to you. Write down what you want to do, and who you want to be, and then discipline your mind where nothing else comes into the picture. Taking inventory of our highest values(family, health, learning, meaningful work, stewardship of money, etc.) tells you where your focus belongs. Values point to what truly inspires you and often reveal your mission. That clarity creates an unshakable sense of purpose—and the power to move forward at will. What you focus on becomes the road that carries you from the present into the future.

Focus is alignment: thoughts → words → actions. If your actions contradict your words, the issue isn’t “I can’t focus”—it’s honesty. Own that. Distractions don’t seize us; we allow them to. Your calendar and behavior tell the truth about what is important to you, no matter what you say.

When life feels “out of focus,” it’s usually life out of alignment. Your body, your results, and your environment provide feedback. Listen to it. Realign your attention with your values, and your actions will follow.

Focus is being true to what you say you prioritize. So the next time you feel unfocused, ask: Am I focusing on what truly matters to me — or on what’s convenient right now? The answer will tell you exactly what to do next.