As the old adage goes, “Where attention goes, energy flows.” Concentration is the ability to focus our attention – and therefore our energy. It’s a cornerstone of mental performance.
So what is concentration? Its benefits can be hard to pin down directly, but we can understand its value by looking at what happens in its absence. The loss of concentration or losing focus can have catastrophic consequences.
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A voice on the speaker shouted, “The whole building is on fire, the whole f—ing thing!” This is the moment every firefighter in Oakland prepares for. Ripped from sleep, wide awake and breathless, we wait for FDC to confirm the address.
“Sir, you are calling from Fruitvale and E14th?”
“Yes.”
The next two minutes are a surge of adrenaline – a pure, raw drug rush. We go from death sleep to full gear. Everyone knows their district, maps memorized. The officer rings the long bell in the background, drivers get their routes and the hydrants. We are out of the barn before the tones go off.
Oakland fire is unique – we hear 9-1-1 fire calls live, the caller speaking directly to FDC. This gives us about a two-minute jump on all fire calls.
From the bucket, I could see the column of smoke from the burn – thick, black, tight, and under pressure. I saw the glow as we hit 35th Avenue. As soon as the air brakes pop, we start setting up the pipe. Flames are coming out of every window. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive fires on arrival I have seen. The fire was so hot, engines had to reposition as their paint was beginning to blister. We get the ladder pipe up and start flowing.
About 45 minutes in, I am at the turntable, operating the controls. My junior firefighter was up on the laddertip, directing the stream. Then it happens. An officer and I get into a quick but distracting disagreement – just 45 seconds of lost concentration. But it was enough.
As I turned to face the officer, the roof collapsed. Flames shot upward, dangerously close to the ladder and my guy on the tip. Time slowed. I heard him shouting. I looked up and saw flames shooting 30 feet into the night sky. In a moment, I was able to regain my concentration, reposition the ladder, and – thankfully – there was no damage to the ladder and more importantly, no physical harm to the firefighter.
I’ll never forget, later that night. I spoke to him and apologized. He looked into my eyes and said, “I thought for a minute there that I was going to die, man.” I still see that look in his eyes – watery, staring right through me.
People ask, “What’s the worst thing you have seen in 23 years as a firefighter?” I never answer. Or I lie. How could they ever understand? This is the worst thing I have ever seen – not the fire, but that look in his eyes.
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This job is won or lost in moments. There are no more quarters, no halftime, or overtime, and no timeouts. We get just one shot. A lapse in concentration can make all the difference.
My story makes it easy to understand why concentration matters. But what do we concentrate on, and how do we improve?
We concentrate on two things: the process and on our sensory inputs. And I will share two ways I’ve developed my ability to concentrate over time (note: still a work in progress).
The Process
In last month’s article, we focused on confidence – believing in your abilities and not your victories. Concentration is similar: we don’t focus on outcomes, we focus on the process. As we remember from the last article, we can’t control the outcome, but we can control our abilities. Again, concentration is similar: we focus on the process – the steps we take to get there.
By focusing on the process, we reduce mistakes and improve our execution towards excellence. Small errors arise when we become outcome focused. These errors add up. Victories (outcome) suffers as a result. This is one of the great ironies of performance.
Think of a golfer. They don’t just swing and hope. NO. The golfer concentrates on each element of the swing: the stands, the grip, the setup, the turn of the hips, the follow-through. That’s the process. Where the ball lands (outcome) is simply the result of doing each step well.
The same applies to firefighting. We don’t focus on putting the fire out. We concentrate on each step or task: pulling the right line, the stretch to the door, flaking out the hose, “50 at the door,” masking and gearing up, checking the door, and bleeding the line. Stay low and go. A well-executed process leads to fast water on the fire – and success. “As the first line goes, the fire goes.”
Sensory Input
But concentration isn’t only about the process – it’s also about tuning into our sensory inputs.
Again we return to the golfer. They tune in, feeling the wind, judging moisture and light, reading the grass, and temperature. This information helps guide the golfer. Without concentrating on these sensory inputs, the golfer’s performance suffers. The process alone can’t save him or her.
The fireground is the same. The firefighter must tune in. Sensory inputs guide actions. What’s the fire telling us? What’s the smoke doing? Where is the heat? What sounds are we hearing? Our senses are critical for peak performance. They inform us on what processes to apply and when.
How to Improve Concentration
The answer, like so much of life, is simple and incredibly difficult. Two practices I use to sharpen and strengthen my concentration are: attention-based meditation and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ).
Attention-Based Meditation
This is as straightforward as it sounds: sit and focus your attention on a single thing. I use the breath.
The breath becomes our center. The breath is always there for us – a place of safe refuge when things get chaotic. Once you’re deeply connected to your breath, shift attention outward to your senses: the feel of the wind, the sun, the heat, and fatigue, touch and pressure, and intuition. Visualize expanding into these senses.
Yes, I know it sounds like “woo-woo hippy shit,” but it works. We have discussed the use of mantras in past articles. Here is one I use in my attention meditation: I am sensitive. I feel every detail. And I let it guide me.
Combat Sports
The second tool is harder. I have long held that combat sports offer a unique training ground for firefighters.
For me it’s BJJ. In BJJ, you must concentrate on the process, or in BJJ lingo, “the setup.” Timing and reactions are critical. Sensory input is everything. Understand the sensory input, then apply the correct setup. Lose focus and you get submitted.
No other sport or workout can replicate the stakes of a combat sport. The margin for error is small. The consequences are immediate – just like on the fireground.
If you want to improve your concentration on the fireground, start training in a combat sport. Muay Thai, Judo, BJJ, to name a few, but just make sure you spar. Starting is the hardest part.
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We will never stand on the platform of victory without concentration. And we will most definitely suffer without it.
Learn from my mistake: A brief lapse in concentration nearly cost someone’s life. Only through years of study and training was I able to identify the problem, refocus concentration, and apply a well developed process.
The mental scars stay with me – as a potent and permanent reminder of how critical concentration is on the fireground.
Tune in next time for a dive into conditioning.
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