A bit of FOCUS

I woke up this morning and after a trying series of events, a few words from yesterday's post-race lectures rang in my head. YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AHEAD OF THE CAR.

A book I read said exactly the same thing, with a significant difference in words and context. SUCCESS IS ANTICIPATING CHANGE. The fact remains, when things get hairy, it's always better to know beforehand. Once it does, you don't want to be following every lead, trying to do everything. You want to know the single most effective path, the exact sequence of events you need to set into motion to get you out of the fire.

These past few months I've found myself chasing after everything and reacting to everything. Maybe not just these few months. I might have been doing it all my life. As far as I'm concerned, up until now, it's been working out for me. Fast hands, fast eyes, the works. Never the best, but always impressive, and always a spectacle.

Last night, I drove aggressively, braking and accelerating abruptly. I drove the way I always do. I drove the way I've always lived.Taking inches.

The track was slick from the rain, and I felt helpless. I spent most of my time with my hands raised. It's a signal to track hands that I've spun off beyond correcting my course. I was spinning off at every sharp corner, frustrated at my inability to react. I was doing it wrong. I wasn't supposed to react. I was supposed to drive ahead of the car.

I was supposed to counter steer, so I would balance out after the slide that would happen a split second later. I was supposed to caress the break, and take my weight to the front of the car, to control my drift. I was taking inches when I was supposed to be taking meters, and miles.

It's about time I drove ahead of the car. The last few paces of chasing around end today.

Tomorrow, I have an exam. Networking. I'm gonna study, and while I'm sure I can get by just remembering bits of the lecture, like I've always done, I'm going to start anticipating.

Friday is a night out with a girl I met last Friday. Five minutes. I hope to turn those five minutes into something longer and more meaningful. I have a sneaky feeling she's something special (wishful thinking).

Saturday is when I when I interact with the more modern concepts of leadership. They know I have it in me. The president of P&G Philippines knows I have it in me. It's about time I found out myself. It's about time I led myself.

All the while, I will be continuing my implementation of the LAN to Bluetooth Streaming and working out the implications of Rizal's life course as a role model to OFW's (or maybe just a proposal for a Philippine History Wiki).

Same as racing, you can only anticipate the next turn, or the next few obstacles.