It was 2012. I was riding with teammates in the Race Across America, a grueling, non-stop bicycle race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland.
During an early transition, one teammate yelled at another in a raw, intense moment:
“PAY ATTENTION!”
Not in anger, but in urgency.
That moment changed everything.
It took just a few hours for that phrase to ripple across our entire team, and what came next was pure magic. Our team instantly shifted from a group riding for a cause…
To a team locked into full-fledged competition. Because in that one moment, we realized every second, every detail, and every decision mattered.
The phrase “pay attention” has stuck with me ever since.
Sometimes as a joke.
More often, as a guiding principle.
Because let’s be honest:
Most people aren’t paying attention.
We’re consumed by what we want next…
And blind to what’s happening now.
Research shows most of us operate on autopilot.
Only a small fraction of our daily actions are truly intentional.
So here’s the real question:
What would change if you truly paid attention?
To your team.
To your goals.
To your relationships.
To the sound of birds outside your window.
For me, it’s simple:
I pause a couple times a day and whisper to myself:
Pay attention.
It’s a habit that sharpens my focus in competition…
And deepens my presence in everyday life.
Paying attention is a superpower. Use it wisely.