---
id: "quote-what-matters-right-now"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["¶15"]
tags: ["emotional-regulation", "focus"]
related: ["framework-tough-calls", "action-regulate-emotions"]
quote: "what matters right now and only right now?"
speakers: ["Alan McCall", "Adrian Wolfberg", "Johann Bilsborough", "Ricard Pruna"]
sources: ["execution"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-execution"
originDay: 8
articleStem: "hbr-cl-77-new-data-using-ai"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/new-data-on-how-were-really-using-ai"
sourceTitle: "New Data on How We’re Really Using AI"
---
# Focusing on what matters right now

> *"what matters right now and only right now?"* — [[entity-alan-mccall]], [[entity-adrian-wolfberg]], [[entity-johann-bilsborough]], [[entity-ricard-pruna]]

The core cognitive anchor used by elite sports coaches to regulate their emotions during high-pressure situations. It is a tactical mechanism for stripping away extraneous variables — past regret, future anxiety — and focusing solely on the immediate, actionable decision. It is the 'During' move of [[framework-tough-calls]] and the exact practice prescribed in [[action-regulate-emotions]].