The Jeff Pulver Blog: Focus on the things YOU can control

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August 04, 2008

Focus on the things YOU can control

There comes a time during our lives where we will learn two simple facts:

“There are things that will happen which I have no control over.
There are things that happen which are totally under my control.”

This isn’t meant to be a philosophical discussion about making our own realities or a discussion about our destiny. Just a statement there are some things in our lives we really have no control over and if we were to spend our time focusing on the things under our control and stop complaining about the things not under control, we may end up being more productive, more successful and happier people. Well, Maybe.

When I fall into a hole, chances are I got there because I didn’t apply myself to the things which were under my sphere of influence and control and I tried to change the things which were not.

There are times we can lose our perspective about this. And sometimes these lines are drawn so close no one can tell them apart. Your own personal situations will vary.

At different points of my life I know there were times where I didn’t want to accept these statements.

When I spend too much time, effort and energy trying to control things I have no control over, I lose my focus and the opportunity to focus on the things which are totally under my control.

When we spend our time focusing your energy on things which are under our control we may end up somehow affecting the things which we otherwise have no control over.

Tags: Entrepreneurship, leadership, Entrepreneur, Jeff Pulver

Please consider leaving a comment. And feel free to find me on twitter and continue this conversation.

Posted by jeff on August 4, 2008 07:32 AM | Permalink

Additional resources: #140conf events | Watch the Jeff Pulver Show | Jeff's Qik Videos

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Posted by: GG at January 19, 2009 04:28 AM

One of the things we will never be able to control is other peoples' opinion of us. Too much of our time can be drained off by making decisions on the basis of how they will make us appear than whether they are the right decisions for us to make. This goes along with your previous post about questioning the way you do things. If, at the end of a day, you can look at your actions and say they came from the right place, then you're positively controlling one of the most important things over which you do have control - your authenticity. It's kind of ironic that by doing so, you'll consequently improve your own reputation.
Thanks for giving me something to think about.

Posted by: Robyn at August 5, 2008 11:33 AM

Jeff, thanks for the post. I couldn't agree more. I went through a tough personal year in 2006 and staying clear on what my real objectives were, being focused on what I could control and the support of some wonderful people let me come through it and gave me my life back. There is a Buffett/McBride song that always helped me keep perspective http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKqwvGa6Bw.

Posted by: John Fleming at August 5, 2008 06:51 AM

With all due respect, I came to this blog asking, "Who the heck is Jeff Pulver who's giving a keynote at a Web 2.0 conference on Thursday?"
After reading this one post, I think you're worth hearing. Hope to see you then.
Thanks.
Rich

Posted by: Rich at August 4, 2008 06:47 PM

The one thing we can not control in life is other people. Just do your own thing, worry about you and don't worry about the actions of others. Drop all expectations of others and just let things be. Be open minded and willing to be flexible when approaching life like this and I guarantee you won't waste as much time worrying over uncontrollable things like Jeff has mentioned here.

Posted by: Chris at August 4, 2008 10:29 AM

Jeff,

Is it something in the air? Or just the start of a new month triggering reflection? Whatever it is yesterday I was posting on a similar line of thought having taken part in Jim Meyer's session at BarCampRDU this weekend.

http://ekive.blogspot.com/2008/08/leap-of-exceptional-faith-at-barcamprdu.html

Posted by: Mark Scrimshire at August 4, 2008 09:54 AM

Great post! I think along these same lines is...there are always going to be doors that are closed to us for one reason or another. One can either keep banging their head against that door, or they can slip in through an open door.

Later the original door might open, but it's not going to magically open just by whining about it.

Posted by: Zoe Winters at August 4, 2008 09:43 AM

Hi Jeff,
Very timely post I just wrote something quite similar thanks

Posted by: Lauren O'Grady at August 4, 2008 09:12 AM

Jeff,

I could not agree with you more. Great post. Now let's all go out and control what we can and enjoy life.

@dmgerbino

Posted by: David Gerbino at August 4, 2008 08:51 AM

Great post Jeff.
There have been times in my life that I have tried to control things that I have had no control of, and lost myself in the confusion and stress. And when I look back, it always seems that things happened for a reason and good comes from it.
A good reminder to us all.

Posted by: Helen Otway at August 4, 2008 08:40 AM

Jeff,

I like your post very much - since me - and I assume most of us - pretty much know that simple rule but I/we do not stick to it. Perhaps this is the definition of (everybody's) happiness: if you can stick to that rule you will be happy.

Posted by: Michael at August 4, 2008 08:27 AM

August 04, 2008

Focus on the things YOU can control

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