Mindfulness is the latest buzzword in business. It’s being taught at Harvard and at Wharton. It’s being talked about at prestigious leadership conferences like Davos. It’s being practiced at places like Google and Apple and Aetna Healthcare.

Everyone’s excited about it because the science shows that mindfulness reduces stress, enhances wellness, increases productivity and significantly improves the bottom line.

But no one really defines what mindfulness is… and, frankly it sounds rather touchy-feely.

Mindfulness isn’t really very complicated. But it’s challenging in the context of the way most of us live.

Mindfulness means taking your time. It means being thoughtful. It means considering the consequences of your decisions and your actions.

It means reflecting.

It means slowing down… and paying attention… to those very few things that matter most.

In your hiring, research, management, policy, product development and sales.

In your relationships, in your career, in your finances, and in your well-being.

But ours is a culture of overwhelm.

We are fragmented, distracted and torn.

The greatest crisis of our age is not that we have too little; but that we have too much: too much information, too much input, too much stimulation, too much to do.

We dwell in a state of continuous partial attention.

Our challenge is not to take on more, but, rather, to take on less.

To eschew the urgent; and indulge the important.

To focus – and become aware.

When we are mindful we are purposeful, compassionate and considered. We honor the work we do… and one another.

When we are mindful, we are clear… and present.

And when we are truly present, we are powerful beyond measure.