From the Latin meaning “domestic hearth”, to focus is the art of centering on, or concentrating one’s attention on a particular and appropriate task for a period of time. To develop this ability is to cultivate indefatigable assiduity, meaning that to build focus is to develop the abilities of longevity in doing something with close and careful attention, including the following of lines of thought. Being task-based, focus is not driven by the clock in the mind of the practitioner, unless that is at least a specific part of the task at hand. The disposition of a focused person is to resist distractions or anything that might detract from the task that is the object of focus.
The picture above shows some New Albion boys flipping old tractor tires. For these boys, the tires were too heavy for just one to achieve the goal, so they had to work together. But, a consistent focus needed to be maintained to keep on track. Otherwise, the tire would roll or slide to one side or another. One person’s lack of focus certainly affects himself, but it also unwittingly affects others. The ability of determined focus is necessary for long-term success in flipping tires, on the battlefield, reading a book, writing a paper, playing an instrument, thinking carefully, listening carefully, and just about anything else worth doing in all of life.