Afraid of being forgotten in the race for attention? Don’t be - instead, treat your focus with respect.

I'm probably not as active on social media as today's digital consumer society expects.

Did something particular happen?

No, nothing particular happened. Still, as a role model of focus, one of my clear statements is that I refuse to respond to people's demands for constant online visibility and to feed their superficiality with insignificance.

As a role model of focus, one of my clear statements is that I refuse to respond to people's demands for constant online visibility and to feed their superficiality with insignificance.

I initially noted this link between a lack of focus and the fear of being forgotten, when the pandemic undoubtedly and mercilessly took hold of the world, and many people's working lives went from clarity to uncertainty. Many reacted with a sudden determination “not to give up, but to reload” and to embrace the digital opportunities with no deeper thoughts.

As I have spent some thousand hours at the shooting range and in the military, I could not help reflecting upon that expression. Why do we reload in times of uncertainty when we don′t know what or where the target is? What is our real weapon when everything is uncertain and no enemy exists, apart from our own anxiety and the risk of losing self-esteem and meaningfulness?

What is our real weapon when everything is uncertain and no enemy exists, apart from our own anxiety and the risk of losing self-esteem and meaningfulness?

I saw friends, followers and colleagues, especially in the small business industry, but also in the private sphere, throw themselves out into an already massive abundance of information and fight for attention on social media - where the driving force behind them was "not to be forgotten".

Many of these very wise and knowledgeable people became tired, listless and sad. Many got stuck in a never-ending pursuit of a quick response.

Of course, we must praise the idea of not giving up, but we must also ask ourselves what this idea can do for us in an age where digital platforms are designed to meet the need for attention in the short term, and therefore can easily drive us to action without thought.

Because, what happens with our long-term focus? What happens to the quality of what we do when a constant comparison with others prevails, and the space for consideration is reduced to almost nothing?

What happens to the quality of what we do when a constant comparison with others prevails, and the space for consideration is reduced to almost nothing?

Most importantly, what happens to a civilisation where everyone wants to be seen and heard by as many people as possible - all the time? Will there be time left for humanity to exercise reflection, to stay calm and to exploit and develop its cognitive and emotional potential? How can we then move from a collective blur to a united focus?

My aim is to help people to reclaim their focus. I don't do that by serving up a quick-fix. If I did that, I would not be true to my mission. Just as I treat my own attention and focus with respect, I respect that of others.

Can I ask other people to do the same? Well, who am I to judge what other people do?

Yet, what I can do is simply to ask all of us to reflect upon the tiny difference between focused and unfocused, and what this little nuance in existence can mean for individuals, for organisations and for the society at large.

If a fear of being forgotten has increased during this time when we cannot meet one another in person, then let’s think twice. Instead, let us ask ourselves: What will make us be remembered?

Could quality, thoughtful actions and in-depth fruitful reflections and interactions have a greater significance in the long-run than a never-ending affirmation of human superficiality, short-sightedness and abundance of everything?

Could quality, thoughtful actions and in-depth fruitful reflections and interactions have a greater significance in the long-run than a never-ending affirmation of human superficiality, short-sightedness and abundance of everything?

Watching this phenomenon from the outside, where millions of people are seeking attention by taking it from others, gives quite a clear view of a zero-sum game where no one can be declared a winner and where one's inner potential is limited instead of thriving.

In a time when people's weakened self-control is being exploited, the ability to focus is a solution, but it must start from within. This may sound difficult, and to focus by turning down opportunities may sound even more difficult. However, starting small can make a great impact in the long-run.

A tiny reflection of how we better can treat our own focus - and therefore also that of others - with respect, can hopefully break the trend and help us slowly to regain our lost focus.

If I can be focused, then so can others – and the more of us who can, the better we can together learn to resist impulses and to learn to ignore everything that is so irrelevant...

This understanding and a reflection upon how to create institutions within which people are given the opportunity to develop a focused mindset, is something I believe would do good for many of us and for the society in which we live.