Focus is the new politics
It's not the best ideas that win in politics...
It’s not the best ideas that win in politics.
It’s the ones we focus on.
I know this sounds cynical. But it's the worst-kept secret amongst those in politics, public affairs and marketing.
The way attention works (what gets it, what holds it, what warps it) shapes the outcomes we care about. Not because we’re shallow or lazy, but because our brains are wired to overestimate the importance of whatever’s in front of us.
So the real question is: how can we focus on the best ideas?
I believe this is the defining problem of modern politics. How you reclaim your focus (and help others do the same) might be the most powerful political act you can take.
So I want to share three thoughts with you:
Why focus shapes what gets done and what doesn’t
Why reclaiming attention is a civic act
How to practice political focus
Let’s get into it.
Why focus shapes what gets done and what doesn't
In order to shift society, you don’t need to change people’s minds. At least not at first. What you first need to do, is change what people focus on.
It's psychology and has a name: the focusing illusion.
Daniel Kahneman put it bluntly:
"Nothing in life is as important as you think it is while you are thinking about it."
That’s the trap.
The moment something grabs your attention (a crisis, a tweet, a poll number), it feels more important than everything else. Even if it's trivial.
In politics, this illusion does something dangerous. It distorts our priorities:
Outrage dominates impact
Visibility wins over substance
The urgent drowns the important
This isn’t accidental:
If you can make people focus on the wrong problem, you don’t need to win the argument.
Let’s make this real:
Media cycles reward drama over depth. A viral video of a speech may trend, while legislative details sink into obscurity. The cost: public decisions driven by vibes, not values.
Outrage keeps us reactive. It polarizes us into 'teams' and sucks oxygen from real problem-solving. It's easier to be against someone than for something hard.
Long-term issues like climate, inequality, or democratic erosion often go ignored, because they’re complex, slow-moving, and less emotionally engaging.
Leadership performance is mistaken for leadership substance. We vote for charisma, not character. Optics, not outcomes.
Politics becomes theatre when attention is the goal instead of the tool.
Why reclaiming attention is a civic act
But here’s the shift.
Focus isn’t just about personal productivity.
It’s a form of collective power.
So, in a world where attention is scarce and considered a valuable resource:
Where you place your attention matters.
What you ignore matters even more.
And how you help others focus? That’s leadership.
Refocusing becomes an act of resistance. You're reclaiming agency. You decide where your focus goes, not someone else. You decide what you work on, what you care about, what you talk about with others. Distraction is inevitable; what counts is returning to what matters. Just by doing that, you take responsibility as a citizen. You also serve as a model for those around you.
Your attention shapes politics. And your politics shapes the world.
So reclaiming your attention is an act of citizenship.
Yes, there are those who are all too good at capturing our attention. They are at an advantage. For one, they typically have abundant resources to shape media cycles, buy advertising and influence what's trending. What's worse: they have the focusing illusion on their side.
But we can put up a fight.
We can practice political focus.
How to practice political focus
So how do we do this?
Here are 4 ways to make your focus count:
“What’s the long-term consequence?” before reacting.
Don’t just ask “What do I feel about this?” Ask, “How will this matter in 5 years?” That alone filters out half the noise.Track what you’re paying attention to vs. what matters.
Start a simple log: What did I focus on today? What actually deserved my time? That gap will reveal your attention's weak spots - and where resistance begins.Use your platform, big or small, to shift focus.
Don’t just share what outrages you. Share what builds. Highlight under-covered stories. Champion people solving problems behind the scenes.Resist the tyranny of urgency.
Just because it’s loud doesn’t mean it’s important. Practice pause. Reflect before reposting. Delay before deciding.
In summary:
The focusing illusion distorts priorities. It’s built into our political systems.
Misplaced focus rewards outrage and neglects the long term.
Practicing conscious attention is a powerful civic act.
Try this:
This week, pick one issue that truly matters to you. Then, deliberately refocus on it every day. Write it down. Take the next step you've been avoiding. Talk about it. Post about it.
And notice what changes.
Want more on how to focus? 👇
Let me know if this struck a chord.
Hit reply or share it with a friend you care about.
Stay focused.