"Tune out drama by focusing on controllables When asked whether manager Mauricio Pochettino's public flirtation with other jobs creates distraction, Dempsey said players inevitably sense the background noise but should override it because they have "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" in front of them. His prescription: "focus on what you got in front of you... and just go make the most of that." People in jobs where leadership uncertainty swirls around them can use an upcoming high-stakes deliverable as an anchor that makes the surrounding noise irrelevant. Source: Clint Dempsey, Men in Blazers Live, US vs Belgium Pre-World Cup Show"