The Machu Picchu of your life: Finding focus in the clouds

What getting to a bucket list item of life's journey can mean to everyday focus

(Warning: Cool photo alert to follow!)

Machu Picchu.

Just the name elicits the idealism of checking off the ultimate bucket list item. It was always one of those places I wanted to go but never actually made it to—until last summer, when I finally went, almost on a whim.

I decided to make it happen, got my friend of 40+ years, Josh, to join me and we planned our quick Peru trip in less than a month. To reach that summit of spirituality from Lima, you have to take planes, trains, automobiles and walk. If you have the right pass (purchased months in advance) or the right tour guide—like we did—you climb another 1,000 feet to the peak of Huayna Picchu, which looks out over the ancient wonder below. 

The terraces of Machu Picchu

The clarity of the highest peak

Standing on the edge of the highest point of Huayna Picchu.

This is where I get to the point of focus.

When you're standing with no harness on the rock at the tippy top of that peak, you do not focus on any of the things that are going wrong in your life. Instead, you focus on the possibilities of what's right.

I came back to America with a rejuvenated spirit that inspired me to change careers and take new risks.

What’s the 'Machu Picchu' of your normal life?

What's your bucket list location? Or, even easier, what's the place where you can focus on what matters and avoid the distractions?

In my normal life, that clarity comes from a run or a swim. It's the place where the noise of the day fades away, leaving only the rhythm of the movement and the clarity of thought.

Josh and I at the tippy top.

Finding your own healthy distraction destination

We all need a place that demands our full attention—a location or an activity that acts as a mental reset. It doesn't have to be an international flight or a grueling hike in the Andes Mountains. It just needs to be a healthy distraction that brings you back to yourself and, in turn, helps improve performance.

"One of the best ways to get ahead is to get away," writes Forbes senior contributor Dr. Tracy Brower. "Paradoxically, if you want to excel, succeed and propel your career it’s critical to take a break and detach mentally, emotionally and physically from your work. Even if you love your job, getting away is necessary to rejuvenate and get new perspectives on your efforts."

My challenge to you this week is simple: find your peak. Identify that space—whether it's a trail, a pool, a quiet desk, a backyard hammock or a local park—where you can stop worrying about what's going wrong and start focusing on what's right.

And don't worry: you don't have to climb 1,000 feet to get there.

Standing in a doorway at Machu Picchu.