The Power of Focus

The great poet Samuel Ullman once wrote, “Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind.” Phil Mickelson would have made Ullman proud. This past weekend, he became the first golfer over 50 years old to win a major championship. Mickelson credited his success with working harder than ever and improving his conditioning. By being in great shape, he was able to devote more time to his game.

As we get older, our mind plays tricks on us. We like to believe our experience will carry us through. We think we can cut a corner, that we don’t have to put forth the maximum effort because we’ve done this 1,000 times before. But by convincing ourselves of that, our focus slips. In the video, Mickelson claims there is no reason why anyone his age can’t achieve. But we have to realize the work typically becomes harder. It’s more taxing on our bodies, and we can lose focus and direction.

Mickelson explains that being able to stay present allowed him to retain that focus. When the results of his labor didn’t earn the rewards, he kept believing. Every day was an opportunity to improve, not a day to record a pass/fail. As we age, we often allow the past to creep into the present, preventing us from having that childlike appetite for success. We tend to believe we can cut a corner, that we don’t have to put forth the maximum effort because we’ve done this 1,000 times before. But by believing that, our focus slips.

Mickelson worked hard on his mind, body and spirit. He was able to stay in the moment, be present for the grind, and continue to work harder than before. Mickelson simply saw losing his focus — not his age — as his biggest opponent.

It’s a lesson we can all learn.