MSU Alumnus shares The Focus Project: The Not So Simple Art of Doing Less

<p>Today we're talking with Erik about his latest book, <a href="https://equalman.com/the-focus-project/"><em>The Focus Project: The Not so Simple Art of Doing Less</em></a>, and how the digital landscape has changed since we last spoke three years ago and will continue to change in 2021. Erik is a five-time number one bestselling author and motivational keynote speaker. He's performed in over 55 countries and his work has been used by the likes of the National Guard, NBC Universal and NASA. His keynote topics focus on innovation, leadership, digital trends, and digital transformation. <a href="https://www.wkar.org/post/equal-man-edu-taining-and-empowering-superheroes#stream/0%20%20%20">In our last conversation</a>, Erik mentioned centering his next project around finding focus in a world filled with distractions. This past July, Erik released <em>The Focus Project</em>. </p><p>“The inspiration for the new book came to fruition because focus is something I was struggling with,” says Qualman on the <a href="https://www.wkar.org/programs/msu-today-russ-white">MSU Today podcast</a>. “Each day when I got home my hair felt like it was on fire. And I'm sitting there going, ‘Wait, I own the company. I control my time. What is going on?’ I wondered if I was alone in feeling this way. When I traveled the world to speak, I talked with CEOs, school principals, superintendents, and stay at home dads and found that everyone wrestles with the same thing.</p><p>“I talked to top performers to ask their key to success, and many told me they thought they could just focus better than most. They added that their biggest challenge was often maintaining that focus. I knew I wasn’t alone.  I always start a book with a readership of one, meaning will this be helpful for me five years from now for me to reference the book? That's why I undertook the project.”</p><p>The ability to say no is a key part of staying focused, says Qualman.</p><p>“Steve Jobs said ‘Sometimes the most important thing you do is deciding what not to do.’ A