The difference between an ordinary marathon runner and an elite marathon runner is the focus inward. The ordinary marathon runner runs the race trying hard to forget the pain by focusing on the world outside. He thinks about the food and sleep waiting for him once he finishes the game.
The elite marathon runner, on the other hand, focuses intensely on herself. She measures the number of paces, observes her breathing, mentally notes down times during the race she feels tired, etc..
It sounds counter intuitive, but the best performers spend a lot of time looking inward. It’s this ability to observe oneself that translates into an ability to observe the world, and take a shot at making it better. How we do one thing is how we do everything after all.
Besides, how can we expect to make a difference in the world if we cannot make a difference in ourselves?
A Learning a Day 