From our newsletter Outside the Lines

Don’t take my word for it

Smart folks thinking out loud about focus.

“Focus is the quintessential component of superior performance in every activity, no matter what the level of skill or the age of the performer.”
-Tim Gallwey, American author

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
-Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor

“It is important to do what you don’t know how to do. It is important to see your skills as keeping you from learning what is deepest and most mysterious. If you know how to focus, unfocus. If your tendency is to make sense out of chaos, start chaos.”
- Carlos Castaneda, Peruvian author

“It looks easy, like surfing, but surfing is hard too.”
-George Eads, American actor

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
-Samuel Beckett, Irish author

“As long as I can focus on enjoying what I’m doing, having fun, I know I’ll play well.”
-Steffi Graf, German tennis player

“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
-Anonymous

“Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win a foreign film award.”
-Billy Wilder, American director