CONTEXT
I heard this famous story about Warren Buffett giving his private pilot advice…
Specifically, he shared his 3-part strategy to set goals (and stay focused).
It’s called the 25/5 Method. Let’s dive in.
THE METHOD
Step 1.
Get a pen and paper. Write out the 25 things you want to accomplish this year.
Get specific.
What do you want to achieve between now and the end of 2024?
Step 2.
Circle the 5 most important things on your list.
(Yep, only 5.)
Step 3.
Are you sure those are your 5 most important?
Yes? Great.
Now the critical part—What do you do with the other 20 on your list?
When Warren allegedly asked his pilot this, he replied: “I’ll work on them a little bit here and there, trying to fit them in where I can.”
“No, you can’t do that,” Warren said.
…Why?
Everything you didn’t circle is now your “avoid-at-all-costs” list.
You cannot give any attention to them until you’ve completed your top 5.
WHY IT WORKS
Top performers focus obsessively on very few priorities.
They don’t get distracted by a lot of “good” opportunities. They only go for a few exceptional ones.
The takeaway?
Focus relentlessly (and exclusively) on your 5 top priorities until each of them is fully implemented and yielding results.
Do fewer things, better. Say ‘no’ to the good to save room for the exceptional.
P.S. (Jury’s still out on whether this story actually happened. But it’s definitely Warren’s credo).
"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." — Warren Buffett
Until next week,
Jade
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