Sometimes I lose focus when I exercise.

I begin full of enthusiasm but as I tire I think about quitting or easing up.

I fixate on the time I have left. I ask myself why am I training so hard? I think I should pace myself or quit early.

The same is true with my career objectives. I start full of enthusiasm but when it becomes difficult I begin to pull back.

My mind wanders. I day dream about winning the lottery, catalog excuses for failure or wonder if I should look for a new job.

The fear I can’t achieve my objective, initially or consistently makes me fall back on my default objective, protecting my ego. It is seductively easy to accept failure and find an excuse. Staying focused and on task is not simple or immediate. It is a choice made every day, every minute, often multiple times a day.