Ask anyone who's been in business for a while how they got successful, and they'll almost always highlight the importance of focus.
In the famous Apple video called "Intention" that opened one of Tim Cook's first keynotes as CEO — there was the unforgettable line:
There are a thousand no's for every yes.
And as Jony Ive has said many times: people think focus is about saying yes to one thing. In reality, it's about saying no to (sacrificing) many fantastically good ideas. All so you can focus on the one thing that really matters most.
That all sounds rather obvious, perhaps.
But of course, that is all a lot easier to accomplish if you're incredibly sure of what you should focus on.
The challenge, I have often found, is choosing what to focus on.
What is actually most important? And can those other ideas, asks, and requests really be a "no" right now?
Surely there is a balance?
The more you can gain conviction on what is truly important — what truly deserves your time and attention — the more confidently and therefore successfully you can focus.
And with that focus — only with that focus — can greatness be achieved.