The Art of Focus by Dan Koe (An Anti-Review)
by Joe Rapoza
Introduction
I’m sitting in Souvenir Coffee Company, located at 3084 College Avenue in Berkeley, reading Dan Koe’s new book, The Art of Focus.
I decided yesterday that I would write an honest review and post it to Amazon.
But, I’ve changed my mind because a normal review wouldn’t do it justice.
The reading and reflection I planned for this book, deserves a book of its very own.
So this is the start, of the currently nameless book I’m writing, in response to The Art of Focus.
I’ve currently dubbed it, an anti-review.
Chapter 1 – My Name is Joey Too
Joey Justice is a Dungeon Master.
Somehow, this doesn’t surprise me.
Joey is Dan’s friend, Kortex business partner, and fellow old-school social media famous person. And it’s his words that open Dan’s book.
Joey’s Foreword is short, but packed with an intriguing notion and tension. He sets the tone by mentioning the opposing paths that he and Dan have.
Paths that ultimately share the same destination.
Joey is a science guy.
Dan is a philosophical and spiritual one.
I relate to both.
Let’s pause here for a second, because before I go any further, I need to mention a decision I made earlier today.
Five hours ago, before I left my house, I posted this tweet:
https://x.com/rapoza_j/status/1748352905353351674?s=20
Now that you’re caught up, let’s move on…
Anyway, regardless of their differences, Joey mentions a connection he and Dan have: gaming.
Gaming, and the gamification of life, is all about taking on the role of a character and overcoming challenges.
Challenges that are planned by a computer, an autonomous algorithm, the invisible hand of God.
Gaming’s about using your skills to obtain new levels. To gain XP so you can take on newer and more challenging encounters.
It’s about reaching new plateaus, and acquiring mastery from taking on difficult tasks with the right amount of discomfort.
It’s seeking rewarding risks, that many people shun.
This is where Joey and Dan overlap: the road of challenge. This is where they see eye-to eye.
Challenge is about taking the high road, the tougher road, the unknown road.
But, it’s not necessarily the longer road. You see, we can measure length by distance, but we can also measure length by time.
When you do something that’s a waste of time, hitting your goals will take longer.
You have to backtrack, and find your way through the noise. It takes longer because you’re not focused on the right tasks.
Focus on the actions that will take you towards your destination —and not away from it.
You see, the challenges along the road are there for a reason.
They’re there so you learn how to deal with the unknown.
To be prepared for anything, because you’ve experienced more than the person to your left, or the person to your right.
Challenge is the path of growth and playing the game, provides the challenge.
But, please know this: just because the high road may be shorter in length, it’s not a shortcut. On the contrary.
The distance from beginning to end may not be as long compared to the easy road, but your transformation while on the tougher road will seem extremely long.
You see, taking risks, failing, falling down, and getting up again, seems to happen quickly in the eyes of others around you.
But they can’t see what you see, or feel what you feel.
Only you know what’s occurring in your mind and to your body.
To you, the challenges that lead to failure feels like a setback. The more failures you encounter, the higher they pile up.
This makes them feel like an eternity to you. But, this is just an illusion.
This is why time, which haunts us all, is relative.
A minute passes the same for you as it does for every other creature on Earth.
But your perception of time’s passing are all your own.
A minute passes at the same rate for everyone, but it’s what you experience in these 60 seconds that matters most.
Ask yourself this simple question: Why am I here?
Are you here to follow the easy path, and experience the least amount possible?
Or are you here to learn, help others, help yourself, and obtain a new level filled with exciting, new challenges?
If it’s the latter, I have news for you: it’s the wise choice.
And it’s the wise person who needs less time, because it’s the experiences you gain, that add up.
