Carving out undisturbed time for focused work is so precious to entrepreneurs, we think of it as Mecca.

I would like to describe my Mecca yesterday – the utterly delicious day I blocked off for hitting goals.

I arrived at the desk at 7:30 am, went directly to my task list, do-not-stop-GO at email.  For 30 minutes the gray matter hummed like a brain sailing on Omega 3.

At 8 am the phone rang.

Me:  Good morning, this is the Bigggggg Ooga.

Them:  Good morning.  This in Wnuk Construction.

Me: (Love them!)

Them: We would like to schedule a time to replace your sliding glass doors, which will take two strong workmen hours to drill, hammer and cut using electric saws. While they do this, they will carve a hole in your office the size of Montana so the freezing chill can whoosh through your bones.  Is today good with you?

Me:  That’s imposs….

Them:  Great.  Because they are on their way over right now.

Me:  Oh, they’re here!  Thank you! (urg)  Your customer service is remarkable. (grrrrr)

For the next 5 hours, layered in winter everything,  I made calls, sent emails and snow-shoed through the to-do list.

The cold invigorated my thinking, the construction faded into the background, large handy people said “God bless you” when I sneezed but were otherwise invisible.  Together in the din, we both hit mission accomplished and returned to Mecca by 4 pm.

They didn’t disturb me, I didn’t disturb them and today the heat is on and the view is clear.   Life may take Visa, but work takes concentration.  Lots and lots of focused concentration.