Executive Insight
Tip of the Week
Issue #32, November 5, 2009
ISSN 1947-2889
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Hi !

Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight.

**Laser Beam Ball Players**

OK, I can't help it. In honor of the Yankees' 27th World Series
victory last night, I'm compelled to weave baseball into today's
column. Aside from the fact that it was an exciting series,
watching these games gave me some important reminders about the
power of concentration.

As a student of focus, I'm fascinated by how elite sports
professionals are so deeply "in the zone" when the crowd is going
crazy (either for or against them), dozens of cameras are zooming
in for close up shots, and their legacy is on the line.

For now, I want to highlight two players. One is M.V.P. Hideki
Matsui, who in last night's game tied the World Series record for
batting in 6 runs. He was focused like a laser beam. Every time he
was up to bat, he was a man on a mission. I never saw him change
the intense expression on his face, even after he was on base at
each turn.

The second is Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' famous "closer", whose
appearance in the eighth inning brought both relief and exhilarated
excitement as the end neared.

Every baseball fan knows him as the pitcher who comes in at the end
of the game to protect the Yankees' lead. Last night he had one
goal: to make five outs and hold the score. He did what he was
supposed to do with laser focus.

Professional athletes stay focused in spite of the enormous
distractions that they have no control over. And we get stressed
out over barely meeting deadlines when we do have control over
managing the constant interruptions of multiple phones, computer
screens, and people talking to us. 

It's no wonder we have trouble staying focused when we do nothing
to remove the distractions.

I'll leave you with one thought: this week, please make one small
change to reduce your "controllable" distractions. You may be
amazed at how much more you get done.

Have a great week!

Lisa

© 2009 Lisa M. Aldisert

Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a
management consulting firm that works with organizations in the
areas of strategy, business development, and
organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at
212-332-3241 to see how we can help you create strategies that make
sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and
profitability.  

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**Leadership and the Bottom Line**

Sometimes your decisions as a leader aren't popular. How you
deliver the message, however, will make the difference in how it is
received.

**Personal Power**

Thanks to Dr. Nancy Hanrahan of the University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing for the reminder that quieting our mind and body
while under severe stress is the best thing we can do to regain our
grounding.

**Trend Watch**

Are the strong earnings in the tech sector a glimpse of the
beginning of the IT recovery? Let's see if the fourth quarter
maintains the momentum.

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