Hey friend,
Years ago, I was on a camping trip with some friends and I learned something that's stuck with me to this day, something I never thought I would learn while camping out in the wilderness.
Was it some important life lesson? The importance of friendship or camaraderie? Whether or not to run when face-to-face with a bear? Or some important life skill like putting up the tent without breaking any of those weird plastic sticks with strings inside, or rolling up a sleeping bag so that it actually fit back in the bag it came in?
No, nothing like that.
I learned how to solve a Rubik's cube.
My friend Andy was a real math nerd, and would often talk about how awesome he thought math was (later he became a math teacher to no one's surprise). He had just recently learned how to solve a Rubik's cube and had brought several with him on the trip.
At first we were just amazed he could actually do it, we'd never seen one actually be solved before!
"Do you guys wanna learn how?"
Suddenly, learning to solve those cubes become the entire purpose of the camping trip. We sat around the campfire for hours learning patterns and twisting the cubes to get those solid colors lined up on the sides just right.
I've never felt more like a nerd. It was awesome.
I was reminded of this skill of mine this past weekend when a friend invited me to attend the Rubik's WCA World Championship in Seattle. I got to see the very best "cubers" in the world competing live.
My personal best time solving a cube is probably around 2 minutes, which used to feel pretty fast. My friend's son is just a little bit faster and can solve one in around 11 seconds.
The winner this year? Their average solve time was 4.23 seconds...
So I've got a bit of room for improvement.
Learning to solve a Rubik's cube was actually really difficult at first. Even as you learn a pattern, it feels so far from the finish line and you just feel like you'll never get there.
But there were a few key factors that really helped us to hyperfocus and learn to solve:
- Boredom, aka no distractions. We were out in the middle of nowhere. This was pre-iPhone so no digital devices at all. All we had were a giant national forest, a campfire, some camping chairs, and a handful of Rubik's cubes.
- Social accountability and competition. Without knowing it, we'd created a perfect storm of body doubling and accountability. Every time one of us would master a pattern, it would drive the rest of us to want to try harder and catch up. It was easy to stay focused on repeating a pattern because that's what we were all doing.
When you struggle with a task or project that feels like it might be impossible (like solving a Rubik's cube), think about all of the tiny little factors that might be affecting your focus.
It can be so easy to give up on something when you're surrounded by devices and opportunities for dopamine, which feel even more appealing with every passing moment.
So hide those distractions. Leave your phone in another room, set a timer dedicated to your current task, or find a friend to work alongside.
Maybe all 3 together.
P.S. I currently have a few spots available for one-off coaching (or you can get a 3-pack bundle). Whether you want ADHD coaching, consulting on specific challenges, or just want to pick my brain about strategies that might work for you, your business, etc—I'd love to help!
These sessions are perfect if you're looking for targeted support without a long-term commitment. Interested? You can schedule a time here to check available and book a spot before they fill up:
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