At a recent conference where I was invited to present, I overheard a curious comment from a participant during one of the breaks: “Where are the cookies?” This was a reminder of how different things have different levels of priority for different individuals. People are unique in a variety of ways. This is one of them.
At the coffee break between sessions, one individual approached the conference organizer and asked if there are any cookies to go with the coffee. I learned that the same individual, prior to registering for the conference, had inquired what was going to be the lunch offering during the conference days. While perhaps not an important component of the conference, at least this individual was consistent in her priorities (!!)
We all have different priorities. And we all have different focus on what’s important. Thankfully, to most, the conference content itself was the reason for attending, not so much the gastronomy. Those that pay attention to what’s important increase their chances of success at any level of life. This recount reminds me of a phrase from Jules Verne’s masterpiece Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: “Aures habent et non audient” — “They have ears but hear not”.
Focus on priorities should be at the forefront of everything we do. If you focus on what’s important, you improve your chances of success. Let’s make that our New Year resolution: Focus on the right things… And enjoy the cookies!
…MARIO
