[jfsantos]

I think I have a little problem with focus. I've recently graduated, and I'm very interested in a lot of different areas. For some of them, the interest is because that area is fun, for others it is because it will look good on my resumé. It's not that I could not make a career based on the things that are fun, but sometimes it looks more risky.

The problem is that I oscillate my focus through all these areas. You can't exactly call it focus :) It is hard to develop further in one area or another.

Do you have any advice for me? Thanks!

[adriand]

I know you're not asking me, so I'm going to give some totally unsolicited advice (which everyone knows is the best kind).

Ship something. Either commit to someone that matters that you will finish something useful to them (e.g. a client, a partner, a spouse, etc.), or commit to releasing something to the general public (e.g. an open source project), or commit to showing off something you built at a democamp or conference.

Like you, I am interested in many different areas. I also tend to start a lot of projects that I never finish. However, because I am a web developer by trade, I also have a lot of projects that I must finish, and many times it is the last, difficult, 20% of a project where I gain the most understanding and knowledge.

To truly grow you have to commit to do something hard and then you have to follow through on it. There is no substitute for that. The great thing about being interested in computers and programming (because of this forum I assume you are) is that it is very easy to combine multiple interests into single projects. If you are interested in biology and robotics, for example, it will not be difficult to conceive of a programming project that includes both.

Good luck. I look forward to hearing about your launch.

[jfsantos]

I wasn't asking you, but I'm glad you answered. Great advice. Thanks!

[mikegreenberg]

Focus is a funny thing. I think those with brilliant minds are the ones that are most consumed and distracted. (I'm alluding to you, here.) I think each person is driven by different things. Personally, I find accountability to be a huge motivator. To that end, I work with partners on projects and try to find people who are just as passionate as I am. My partner never let's me drop the project so I continue to make progress despite whatever is distracting me at the moment. Some people use mental tricks for motivating their progress. (Like making games out of tasks. Or using systems to influence taking decisions that yield the greatest net personal gain.)

Here are some of the resources I frequent to help mold my thinking and personal refinement. Maybe something below will help.

http://the99percent.com/tips/browse/3/Action-Method

http://www.oninnovation.com/videos/detail.aspx?video=1251

http://changethis.com/

http://zenhabits.net/