At Current, television is all we do - that's our business. We

When Keith Olbermann said, “At Current, television is all we do — that’s our business. We don’t have amusement parks I have to worry about, we don’t have environmental cases against us, we don’t have a series of outdoor-advertising companies,” he was not merely describing his workplace — he was declaring a philosophy of focus. His words are those of a man who understood that greatness is born not from scattering one’s efforts, but from the discipline of devotion to a single craft. In a world obsessed with expansion and endless diversification, Olbermann’s statement stands as a reminder of the ancient wisdom that mastery begins when one dares to do one thing — and do it well.

The origin of this quote lies in Olbermann’s tenure with Current TV, a network co-founded by Al Gore in the early 2000s. At the time, Olbermann contrasted Current with the great media empires of the age — companies like Disney or News Corp — whose vast holdings stretched from newsrooms to theme parks, from studios to boardrooms, and even into the courts. These giants were no longer pure in their purpose; their messages and missions were diluted by profit, politics, and public image. Olbermann’s point was clear: Current TV existed solely for the art of broadcasting, unburdened by the distractions of empire. It was, in his view, a return to purity of purpose — to the old, noble idea that a trade should be practiced for its own sake, not as a mere appendage of power.

To the ancients, this devotion to singular purpose was the mark of excellence. The Greeks called it arete — the pursuit of one’s highest potential through mastery of one’s chosen craft. The blacksmith who forged the perfect blade, the philosopher who sought perfect truth, the sculptor who carved beauty from stone — each understood that greatness comes when the hand, the heart, and the mind are united in one endeavor. Olbermann’s words echo this same ideal: that to serve one calling with clarity and passion is a greater virtue than to chase a dozen ambitions with none.

History offers countless examples of the perils of divided focus. Consider the fate of the Roman Empire, which once ruled the known world but grew so vast and burdened with wealth, colonies, and corruption that it lost sight of its original purpose — to govern justly and protect its people. Its greatness fractured under the weight of its own excess. By contrast, the small city-state of Sparta, for all its harshness, endured for centuries because it remained singular in its devotion to discipline and defense. So too, in Olbermann’s metaphor, the media companies bloated by their many interests risked the fate of Rome — losing integrity to indulgence — while Current, though smaller, sought to hold fast to its Spartan purity of mission.

Yet, his words also carry a note of pride and warning. Pride, because he took honor in belonging to an institution uncorrupted by other ventures; and warning, because he knew that purity is fragile in the face of ambition. Every age, from the philosophers of Athens to the builders of Silicon Valley, faces the same temptation: to trade focus for growth, quality for quantity, meaning for money. Olbermann’s reflection reminds us that the soul of any craft — be it art, journalism, or governance — is lost when its purpose is buried beneath the noise of profit and distraction.

There is also a deeper moral resonance in his statement. To say “television is all we do” is not just a description of work, but a declaration of identity — of knowing one’s path and walking it without apology. In life, as in art, clarity of purpose is strength. When we know what we are called to create, we must guard that calling against dilution. The great painter does not try to sing; the philosopher does not chase applause. The wise person learns that fulfillment comes not from doing everything, but from doing the one thing that gives life meaning — and doing it with unwavering devotion.

The lesson in Olbermann’s words is timeless: focus is the foundation of excellence. In your work, your passion, your calling — let go of the distractions that scatter your spirit. Be wary of the allure of many things, for they may leave you hollow. Like the archer who draws his bow with calm precision, set your aim upon one worthy goal and let your energy flow wholly toward it.

So, my children, remember this truth: purity of purpose brings power of creation. The world will tempt you to diversify, to chase more, to become everything — but true mastery, true peace, lies in choosing one path and walking it with courage. For the river that flows in one direction carves valleys; the one that splinters into many becomes a marsh. Keith Olbermann’s wisdom is not about television alone — it is about life itself. To live greatly, live with focus. To create meaning, create with intent. And in that devotion, you will find not only success, but honor.