We spend 90 percent of our time on autopilot.  And while that has its benefits, like efficiency, it can also be detrimental.  When 57,000 thoughts of the 60,000 we have each day are exactly the same as the day before, it doesn’t allow for a very open mind.

            If we tried to translate that into business opportunities missed, what do you think that’s worth?   While the exact dollar amount may be hard to determine, it is easy to conclude we probably miss more opportunity than we see.

            When we get so focused on the day-to-day, on the market, on the limitations and obstacles, we literally miss opportunity right before us.

            If you need a demonstration, before reading further, click on the following link: http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/flashmovies/15.php. Once there, watch the video and count how many times the ball is passed between those with white t-shirts.  Or if you prefer, count how many times it is passed between those with black t-shirts.

            Many have already seen this video.  By the way, the ball passes from white to white 14 times, and between the blacks 19 times.  That of course is not the point of the video. Most people focused on counting the ball passes totally miss a gorilla walking through the group, slowly.

            If you experience this, it is quite shocking. It appears to be some kind of a trick.  It’s not. It has been learned that conscious perception or focused attention is needed to literally see something that is right in front of you, in plain view.

            You can get off auto pilot.  You can switch your focus to capture more opportunity.  It has to be a conscious effort.  And it has to be backed by a process that involves written goals, attitude management and a change in habits.

            So I repeat, while you are focused on the challenges of the day, to how many opportunities were you blind?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 9:43 am and is filed under Culture, General Business, Leadership.