Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence

Attention works much like a muscle: use it poorly and it can wither; work it well and it grows. In Focus, psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman contends that in an era of distractions, we must learn to sharpen focus if we are to thrive in a complex world. He analyzes attention research in three categories: inner, other, and outer. High-achievers need all three, as demonstrated by rich case studies from fields such as sports, education, the arts, and business. Those who excel rely on what Goleman calis smart practice—mindfulness meditation, focused preparation, recovery from setbacks, attention to their learning curve, and positive emotions and connections. Combining cutting-edge research with practical findings, Focus calis upon readers not only to pay attention to what matters most to them personally, but also to turn their attention to the pressing problems of the wider world, and to the future, not just the seductively simple demands of the here and now.