David McCullough Quotes

Good performance is about the capacity to focus and concentrate.

I find it so easy to get distracted - I try not to do more than one thing at any one time.

I'll read anything. In fact, I'll read while I'm doing other things, which is not a good idea.

No more than a surgeon can operate while tweeting can you reach your potential with one ear in, one ear out. You actually have to reacquaint yourself with concentration. We all do.

I have a short attention span, so when one book isn't working out, I just work on another.

I have always had trouble paying attention. When I was supposed to be at work, I'd be doodling. But then when I was home, trying to draw, I would be working on math problems. I never end up doing exactly what I should be doing at at any given time.

I don't think I'm going to do any good work this morning.

I procrastinate all morning. That's when I get my office work done and answer e-mails and see what's on the Internet and do laundry.

When you drive, you are doing several things at once. You are using your eyes, ears, hands, your mind. If you have meditated for many years and have reached a lofty height in your meditation, as I have, you can meditate while running and cycling and painting.

I just want to focus on one thing at a time.

Still, I tune out the visual input when it is too distracting, mainly in conversations.

I really love writing, but I am very easily distracted: my two cats fighting, a rainbow, a TV show... I have to use every trick to keep myself at the computer.

My concentration span is truly that of a gnat. Some people have this ladder, and that's all there is - the ladder. I have the ladder, too, but there's a building around it with scaffolding, and lots of windows for me to peek into. Then suddenly I'll remember, 'Oh, there's the ladder. I should be concentrating on that.'

I tend to write in coffee shops and restaurants with friends of mine because if I'm at home, I get distracted by the television or the cats or my husband, or... you know - all of those things that make it easy to procrastinate.

To be honest, I don't enjoy watching movies much when I'm working. They tend to fall apart on me a bit.

I had spent years thinking about one thing while I was doing another. I had, in fact, prided myself on being able to do two things at once.

I think the lack of precision and deep focus is why it took me years to build up my work.

I just get focused on whatever is in front of me. When I was filming Crossroads, it had all my focus. Now I'm all focused on finishing my recording so I can get that out. It's just day by day.

I've actually not read any books on time management.

During my long study sessions in the library, I found myself watching YouTube videos during study breaks.

I need to have something else going on. I'm able to write a lot if I have an episode of 'Friday Night Lights' going on my computer.

I learnt that I must never finish a book with nothing else to do.

These days you're not just competing with the tedium, you're competing with the cellphone.

I'm very focused when I'm making a movie, but I'm also a fantastic multitasker.

You're a wise person if you can easily direct your attention to what ever needs it.