Success, Focus, and the Right Side of the Screen

This past week gave me one of those reminders that hits you at the right time, in the right place, with the right people. I spent several days in New Orleans handling meetings leading up to the 106.7 The Ticket draft event at Game On Social Hub. It was a strong week of business, energy, and opportunity. But more importantly, it was a week of perspective.

In one particular meeting, I sat down with an account executive and a potential client who owns several businesses across New Orleans. We went in with a clear objective, to understand his needs and explore how we could build something mutually beneficial. What stood out to me was not just the business discussion, but the deeper conversation that unfolded about culture, discipline, and focus.

I have always believed that if you take the time to study people, you learn far more than what is on the surface. This client had a culture rooted in family, education, and unity. The kind of camaraderie you do not often see highlighted. It was genuine. It was grounded. It was focused.

As we wrapped up the business portion of the meeting, something interesting happened. The client pointed out something that most people would overlook. He said that both myself and the account executive had done something rare. Neither of us had our phones on the table. Not once did we check them. Not once did we allow a notification to interrupt the moment.

We were fully present.

That level of attention told him everything he needed to know about how we operate. It showed respect. It showed discipline. It showed that we value people more than distractions. In many ways, that moment probably helped close the deal. But beyond business, it opened up a conversation that stuck with me long after the meeting ended.

He began talking about how much time Americans spend on their phones, social media, and television. Then he said something simple but powerful. He told me to look at my phone and check my screen time.

So I did.

What I saw surprised me. Thirteen hours a week on social media. Close to thirty hours a week on my phone overall.

That is nearly a full-time job.

I dug a little deeper and realized that I am not alone. The average American spends roughly thirty-five hours a week on their phone. That breaks down to four to five hours a day, every day. On top of that, about twenty-six hours a week are spent watching television or streaming content. Social media alone accounts for around sixteen and a half hours a week.

Think about that for a moment.

That is not just time. That is opportunity.

That is time that could be used to build, to grow, to learn, to connect, to create something meaningful. Instead, much of it is spent consuming content that adds little to no value to our long-term success.

Now, I will be honest. When I looked at my own numbers, I felt some relief when I realized a large portion of my phone time was spent on audiobooks and podcasts. That is at least productive. But even with that, the total number was still high. It forced me to take a step back and ask a simple question.

Am I using my time, or is my time using me?

That question led me back to something I heard on the Earn Your Leisure podcast. There was an entrepreneur, a multi-millionaire, sharing insights about how he built his success. One of the hosts asked him if he was concerned that by sharing his strategies, people would use them to compete against him.

His answer was direct.

He said he was not worried at all.

Not because the information was not valuable, but because most people simply will not execute. They may listen. They may agree. They may even feel motivated in the moment. But they will not take consistent action.

He went on to say that nearly every solution people need is available through a library card or internet access. The information is there. The opportunity is there. The pathway is there.

But the discipline is not.

He explained that a very small percentage of people will actually take what they learn and apply it consistently. The rest remain stuck in a cycle. Learning without doing. Talking without acting. Planning without executing.

And here is the part that really stood out.

The same people who are not executing are often the loudest when it comes to complaining about their situation.

That stayed with me.

It made me reflect not just on time, but on attention. Because where your attention goes, your life follows.

Our client added another layer to that conversation. He told us that he does not own a television. Not because he cannot afford one, but because he understands the cost of distraction. He chooses to stay focused on building his businesses. He chooses to invest his time in activities that move him forward.

He also made it clear that he is not worried about competition.

Why?

Because most people are not willing to do what it takes to succeed.

That aligns perfectly with what Napoleon Hill wrote in Outwitting the Devil. In that book, Hill talks about the concept of drifting. Drifting is when you move through life without direction, without intention, and without discipline. You become reactive instead of proactive. You get caught in what he calls the hypnotic rhythm.

That rhythm is powerful.

It keeps people comfortable. It keeps people distracted. It keeps people from making the changes necessary to grow.

Today, that hypnotic rhythm often shows up as endless scrolling, constant notifications, binge watching, and a steady stream of content that pulls your focus away from your goals.

The danger is not just the time spent. The danger is the habit formed.

When you consistently choose distraction over discipline, you train your mind to avoid effort. You train yourself to seek comfort instead of growth. Over time, that becomes your default setting.

Breaking that cycle requires a conscious decision.

You have to decide that your goals matter more than your distractions. You have to decide that your future deserves more attention than your feed. You have to decide that your time is too valuable to be wasted on things that do not move you forward.

That does not mean you cannot enjoy life. It does not mean you cannot watch a game, a show, or spend time on social media. It simply means that those things should not control your time or your focus.

For me, this week created clarity.

I have goals for my radio stations. I have goals for my personal growth. I have goals for my family. All of those require attention, effort, and consistency. They require me to be present, not just physically, but mentally.

I cannot afford to spend hours invested in what someone else is doing while neglecting what I need to do.

I cannot allow entertainment to take priority over execution.

That does not mean I will eliminate everything. I enjoy football, and I will still watch during the season. But it will not consume my entire day or weekend. It will be intentional, not habitual.

Because the real focus needs to be on building something meaningful.

That brings me back to the draft event.

This Thursday, we watched nearly thirty young men see their dreams come to life through the NFL Draft. Years of work, sacrifice, discipline, and focus led to that moment. It was not luck. It was not accidental. It was the result of consistent execution over time.

They made a decision early on to be on the right side of the screen.

While others were watching, they were working.

While others were scrolling, they were training.

While others were distracted, they were focused.

That is the difference.

And that same principle applies to all of us.

You may not be training for the NFL, but you are building something. A career. A business. A legacy. A life. Whatever your goals are, they require the same level of focus and commitment.

The opportunity is there.

The information is there.

The resources are there.

The question is whether you are willing to execute.

It starts with small decisions.

Put the phone down during important conversations.

Be fully present in your meetings.

Audit your time honestly.

Reduce distractions that do not serve you.

Invest your time in learning, building, and growing.

Surround yourself with people who are focused and productive.

Get into environments where success is the standard, not the exception.

Success is not just about what you do. It is about what you consistently choose not to do.

You do not have to eliminate everything. You just have to prioritize correctly.

As for me, I have made a commitment.

I am going to spend less time in front of screens and more time in front of my success. More time executing. More time building. More time focusing on the things that truly matter.

Because at the end of the day, the difference between where you are and where you want to be is how you use your time.

And if we are being honest, most people already know what they need to do.

They just need to do it.

So here is the challenge.

Take a look at your screen time. Not to judge yourself, but to understand yourself. Then ask one simple question.

Is this helping me become who I want to be?

If the answer is no, make the adjustment.

Because your future is not built by what you watch.

It is built by what you do.

And just like those young men on draft night, you have the opportunity to turn your vision into reality.

You just have to decide to be on the right side of the screen.