You would have to be living in a cave to have not heard the media hype on the trials and tribulations of Anna Nicole Smith.
I am astounded by the attention that this grade school dropout, stripper turned celebrity, has generated. It is difficult to know if the media creates the public interest or if the curiosity creates the publicity.
Nonetheless, we are distracted from other world events occurring, such as a war in Iraq, a rebuilding of the Gulf Coast and a Korean nuclear agreement.
As leaders, it can be challenging to stay focused on what is really important. We can get distracted by the noise of the media, stakeholders, employees and public. We can also get distracted by our own critical inner voice.
When we react to ongoing interruptions it is easy to lose sight of what we value. Asking “What is important about this?” or “How will focusing on this advance my vision?” are key questions to help guide you.
So notice what distracts you. Is it how you want to invest your time?