Focus Beyond the "Board"

Focus Beyond the Board 

“Don’t aim at the board. Aim through it.”

This is one of the first things I teach in my Board Breaking Experience workshops — whether I’m working with executives in a boardroom, educators in a retreat setting, or students standing nervously at their first martial arts demo.

It may sound like a simple instruction. But it’s one of the most powerful metaphors I’ve ever used to help people break through fear, limiting beliefs, and the invisible walls holding them back.

Because in both martial arts and life, when we focus on the obstacle — the board — we often stop short.
We hesitate.
We second-guess ourselves.
We lose momentum.
And we hold back.

But when we shift our focus to what’s on the other side, we unlock a completely different energy.
The body aligns. The mind commits. The result changes.

This principle doesn’t just help people break boards.
It helps them break patterns.

The Obstacle vs. the Outcome

Let’s face it — we all face “boards” in our lives.
Sometimes they show up in physical form.
More often, they show up as emotional and mental blocks:

• A difficult conversation with a colleague that we keep postponing
• A business decision we avoid making out of fear of failure
• A new opportunity we want, but don’t pursue because it feels just out of reach

These are the boards that don’t make a sound when they hit the floor — but they keep us stuck all the same.

And when we focus only on the obstacle, we build resistance.
We analyze it. We overthink it. We start seeing the obstacle as bigger than it is.

We start thinking, “What if it doesn’t work?”
Instead of asking, “What if it does?”

The Shift That Creates Breakthroughs

Here’s what I tell the audiences and teams I work with:

“

Don’t lead to survive. Lead to break through.”

And leading to break through means not focusing on what could go wrong — but on what could go right if we just follow through.

In my workshops, when someone shifts their focus from the board to the space beyond it, everything changes.

They hit with more energy.
They step forward with more belief.
And more often than not… the board breaks.

It’s not magic.
It’s mindset.

And when you apply that to your life, the ripple effect is profound.

You speak with more clarity.
You approach challenges with more calm.
You take action with more purpose.

Because your focus isn’t on what’s in your way — it’s on what’s waiting beyond it.

👊🏼 What’s Your Focus Right Now?

Take a moment and ask yourself:

• Are you focused on the problem in front of you?
• Or are you focused on the possibility beyond it?

Because here’s what I know from decades of teaching and coaching:
Energy follows focus.

And the quality of your life and leadership often mirrors the quality of your vision.

So the next time you're faced with an obstacle, try this shift:

Don’t ask, “What’s blocking me?”
Ask, “What’s beyond this — and how do I align myself to move through it?”

That single change in perspective could be the difference between another missed opportunity… and your next breakthrough.

Bring This Message to Life at Your Next Event

This idea of focusing beyond the board isn’t just something I talk about.
It’s something I bring to life — in real-time — through my interactive keynotes and board-breaking experiences.

At your next leadership summit, company retreat, school assembly, or conference, I’ll guide your attendees through an unforgettable experience that helps them:

• Name their obstacle
• Clarify their intention
• Break through with courage and clarity

Because when someone experiences what it feels like to break through a literal board — they walk away knowing they can break through any barrier that shows up in their life.

This isn’t just a keynote. It’s a catalyst.

Let’s Help Your Audience Break Through

If you’re an event planner, HR leader, coach, or executive looking to create a powerful moment of transformation for your group, let’s connect.

📅 Now booking for Fall 2025 and beyond

📥 LET’S CONNECT

➡️ [Schedule a Call]
➡️ {Download my Media Kit}
➡️ [Watch my Speaking Highlight Reel]

Because the next breakthrough your audience needs… is already waiting.

They just need to shift their focus — and follow through.

Chris Natzke
America’s Breakthrough Sensei
chrisnatzke.com | [LinkedIn] | [Facebook] | [YouTube]