What 5-year-olds taught me about focus

At my son’s recent soccer game, I got a front-row seat to a perfect little life lesson in what entrepreneurs like to call “Shiny Object Syndrome.”

Picture a bunch of five-year-old boys out there doing their best to chase down a soccer ball and maybe even score a goal. 

Everything’s going fine, until, out of nowhere, an older brother’s remote-controlled car comes zooming onto the field.

And what happened? You probably guessed it.

You could almost hear the collective “oooooh” from every kid as their heads turned in unison.

The car zipped across the grass like lightning, its little antenna bouncing with every bump.

Those kids instantly forgot all about the soccer game. 

No more goals. No more passing. No more teamwork.

They were completely mesmerized by that little car darting around. 

It was like the soccer ball never even existed.

And as I stood there watching, I couldn’t help but laugh, because I’ve done the same thing a hundred times in business.

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Today in 3 minutes or less:

✔️ The Entrepreneur’s Remote-Control Car

✔️ The Game Is Won by the Focused

✔️ How to Stay on the Field When Distractions Arrive

 🚗 The Entrepreneur’s Remote-Control Car

We do the exact same thing as business owners.

You’re locked in. Focused. You’ve got a goal. 

Your plan’s working, and then…

💥 A new tool drops.
💥 Someone launches a sexy new offer.
💥 A podcast says “You HAVE to try this new thing.”

Suddenly, your focus evaporates. 

You start thinking, “Maybe that’s what I should be doing instead.”

Suddenly, we’re reading sales pages, watching demos, joining free challenges, and convincing ourselves this is the thing that will change everything.

That’s the entrepreneurial version of the remote-control car.  

It’s flashy. It’s loud. It feels exciting, but it almost always pulls you off the field.

✨ The Game Is Won by the Focused

Here's what I noticed on that field: the few kids who ignored the car?

They kept playing. They passed. They scored.

They weren't even the fastest kids or the best ball handlers. But they were the ones still in the game while everyone else was chasing noise.

And that's the whole playbook for us too.

Most entrepreneurs don't fail because of lack of opportunity or lack of skill.

They fail because they can't recognize a distraction when it shows up.

The shiny things don't kill your progress. Your reaction to them does.

⚽ How to Stay on the Field When Distractions Arrive

Here’s what’s been helping me lately and maybe it’ll help you too:

1. Set your “soccer ball” each morning
Decide the single thing that moves the ball downfield today, and commit to finishing it first. That’s your ball, everything else is noise until that’s done.

2. Track shiny objects in a “parking lot” doc
When a new idea or tool shows up, write it down instead of chasing it. You can revisit it later with clear eyes.

3. Train your focus muscle
Every time you resist chasing something new, you build endurance. Focus isn’t a gift, it’s a skill.

4. Reward consistency, not novelty
Make progress itself the dopamine hit. Celebrate sticking with your core priorities longer than feels comfortable.

5. Keep a coach or accountability partner
Someone who can call you out when you’re about to chase the next RC car across the field.

⚽ What You Can Do Today

The game isn’t won by whoever implements the newest AI tool or chases shiny toys. 

It’s won by whoever keeps their eyes on the ball.

• Write down your current “soccer ball.”
  

• Look at your to-do list. What’s the RC car distracting you right now?
  

• Choose one thing to finish before you chase anything new.

Keep playing your game 💪

To profiting more and working less. 💸 

-Matt

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