The leadership principle, "Focus only upon what you can control," is critical to success. Often, people get bogged down worrying or concerning themselves with things they cannot change. As the saying goes, if you aren't part of the problem or solution, than it shouldn't be your concern. Worry, fear, and anxiety often come from being concerned about things over which we have no control.
What's the weather going to do? What was that person thinking of me? How did the President make that comment? Why did that zit come back? What is Bin Laden going to do next? Why are the Lions still losing? Our minds get filled with questions that 
are outside our "Circle of Concern."
Ideally, we should shoot to have our Circle of Concern the exact same size as our Circle of Influence, that is, the realm of things that we CAN control or have an impact upon. We would have very little anxiety, and would be very effective, if the two circles overlapped and were matched in size. Also, we would not waste time talking about or working on things that we really can't change. Let's face it; there are plenty of things we CAN change and OUGHT to change that we SHOULD be working on instead. Let's leave all that other stuff to the side.
"But if I'm concerned about it, doesn't that mean that I am assigned to get involved and do something about it?" Maybe. As long as it is within the realm of possibility for you to actually do something about it. But putting valuable thought energy into something in which you can make no difference is a waste of time, energy, and talent, at least for now.
The best leaders know this cold. They find someting that needs changing, and they go after it with all they've got. They don't waste time and energy on topics and causes beyond their influence. Then, as they grow in influence by focusing only upon what they CAN control, they eventually get a bigger and bigger Circle of Influence. Ultimately, then, they can have a bigger and bigger Circle of Concern to match. But it must work that way first.
Work and focus within your Circle of Influence first, until it grows and grows as your leadership ability grows. Then, your Circle of Concern can grow to match. But worry about a Circle of Concern beyond the scope of your immediate Circle of Influence, and you've got a recipe for frustration, ineffectiveness, and failure.
Lead where you are, right now, with what you've got. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
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