By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
The other day, while sitting in the parking lot of McDonald’s enjoying breakfast, I found
myself scrolling through social media when I came across a story about something
called the “Red Car Theory.” I’d never heard of it before, but the premise was simple:
“How many red cars have you seen today?” Skeptical yet curious, I paused and glanced
out of my car’s windshield. Suddenly, it felt like I was on the set of a movie about red
cars. I counted over eight in just a few moments, with more coming into view from the
surrounding roads. How could this be?
As it turns out, the “Red Car Theory” isn’t really about red cars—it’s about the power of
focus.
The ability to focus can dramatically improve our lives and open doors to opportunities
we might otherwise overlook. The late author Dr. Wayne Dyer often talked about how
people approach situations with preconceived notions. For example, he described the
act of going to a mall and thinking, “There’s no place to park.” This mindset, he argued,
sets the stage for failure before you even arrive. On the other hand, someone who
actively looks for a parking spot is far more likely to find one. It’s a small but powerful
difference: focus on the solution, not the problem.
Our brains are amazing tools when it comes to focus. For instance, did you know that
you can see your nose at all times, but your brain filters it out of your field of vision? Of
the millions of stimuli our brains process daily, we’re able to narrow in on what matters
most in the moment. Imagine driving toward an intersection. Your brain seamlessly
processes multiple tasks: your speed, whether the traffic light is green, and whether the
child playing nearby might dart into the road. This filtering and prioritization keep
us—and others—safe.
In the workplace, focus can make or break a career. Small, seemingly insignificant
actions, like consistently showing up on time or completing assignments, can have a
huge impact over time. It’s like a race car driver making micro-adjustments as they take
a curve. Those tiny changes might not seem dramatic, but they can mean the difference
between victory and crashing into a wall.
Cultivating focus begins with setting clear goals and identifying the steps needed to
achieve them. It also means learning to filter out distractions that pull us away from
those goals. Take a hard look at your daily habits. Are you spending hours on your
phone, or are you using that time to move closer to your objectives? The person who
focuses their time and energy effectively will find the path to success clearer and easier
to navigate.
This week, why not give the Red Car Theory a try? Step outside, commit to noticing
every red car you see, and observe what happens. You might be surprised by how
much you notice when you shift your focus. Who knows? This simple exercise might
inspire you to start seeing opportunities where you once saw obstacles.