Many of my friends have been trapped in horrific weather this week. Anywhere across the states and even the globe, there has been tragic incidences of weather that have taken lives or shut down commerce, which negatively impacts many, many lives. One person with whom I was supposed to demo my company's product lost power for a day or so due to ice. An ice storm.

Many pictures of severe winter conditions emerged this week. None more impactful than this one that was floated around our office:

It is hard to concentrate when outside a storm is waging. It is hard to communicate when numerous channels of communication are jammed or knocked out of service. It is hard to fulfill daily duties when distractions abound. And distractions do not have to be limited to weather.

There may be family crisis, big or small. My daughter called me last week to state that the bottom of the cupboard under our kitchen sink had caved in, a drip had been constant and we had not realized it until too late. I couldn't concentrate the rest of the day - I was done. My mother had surgery not too long ago and my thoughts were chronically with her, hoping and wishing for the best - it was received, thank goodness. An email came in from our water provider, Arrowhead, stating they were changing our delivery service and number of water containers to be delivered. It took me out for the count because I had to go count - making sure the water needs of my office would be met with the projected changes.

Falling off of the curb where you are perched is easy, if you let it be so. Focus is difficult to maintain when our lives and minds are pulled in so many different directions. And as the shift in the economy continues, this condition will continue and maybe even worsen--> the lack of focus, multiple distractions. I used to say I could multi-task and while it is true, it is also true that divided attention can prove to be damaging as division is a break, a split of ideas or lack of cohesion. Care is difficult to keep when you aren't sure where to look, or for whom or what to care.

There is no need to panic or make drastic changes, but there is a need to remember a really key idea: United we stand, divided we fall. I like to use this in reference to self and the focus I direct toward each project. United and singular thoughts, I stand, I succeed. Divided or scattered thoughts I fall, I fail. I don't know about you, but now - at this very ripe time - is not a time to fail or become disoriented or out of focus. My client/partner/hiring manager/candidate needs to see that I am better than my competition. I need to be better than my competition. Focused I stand.

by rayannethorn