Tell me if this sounds familiar to you. You have decided to start working on a new project. You know that this is THE thing that will pump your energy and it’s going to be great. You are excited about the upcoming few months and plan for your project with complete enthusiasm.
But as months go by, you lose your cool. You realize things aren’t going as according to you thought they would be. The project is not progressing nearly at the rate you want it to, even though you've established it as your number one priority in your goals list.
So what’s going on? Why do you face such situations? Any guesses?
Let’s give you some hints, when you received this email today you opened it at first glance out of your curiosity right? You might be working on your laptop or doing some work unless you were not, it’s fair to say that you got DISTRACTED from something that you were occupied with. For example, you might have planned to send an important email now, but when the notification in your inbox said 25-5 rule and do not read this edition now, gave rise to the curiosity on what this is about and your urge to open this email hiked and you hit open. Eventually, you got distracted. So in that case please go back finish your work and then come to this newsletter unless reading this newsletter becomes your first priority(I believe that it should, so don’t stop reading, please continue!). If on the other case you are not occupied with any work and only out of curiosity made you opened this email then please continue reading because you will definitely have fun understanding the new concept I learnt this week which I am about to share with you.
So simple answer to the question asked earlier what hampered your progress on the project is that because YOU KEEP GETTING DISTRACTED. And it’s not your fault.
Maybe it's the countless meetings that keep getting in the way or the countless online classes. Or, maybe it's the hundred other great ideas you have in the meantime, like the other innovative ideas which are short term achievable compared to your long term project.
You might as well think: Let me just do these other things first because they're quick and easy--or because they're more fun and I can see the results faster.
That's the trap I often fall into. My brain is filled with new ideas and projects. But usually, when I start working on these small ideas I realize I have taken time from the project I should really be working on.
Recently I came across a rule that helps me stay focused on what I should be working on, instead of what I could be working on.
It’s called the 25-5 rule.
The 25/5 rule is an emotionally intelligent way to avoid distraction, achieve more focus, and get more done.
The 5/25 rule is an exercise Warren Buffett used to help his pilot of 10 years, Mike Flint, identify his own career goals. Apparently, Buffett was concerned that Flint had worked for him for so many years. He felt that Flint should instead be growing in his career, following his dreams. So, he approached Flint and showed him the 5/25 rule.
First, Buffett told Flint to make a list of his top 25 career goals.
Then, Buffett said to circle the top five goals.
The idea is, to remain focused on accomplishing goals 1 through 5, you have to stay completely away from working on goals 6 through 25.
So how is it done? It’s a two-step process that anyone can use to focus on career, health, home or any other area of life. When you’re done, you will have narrowed down your most important goals and learned the key to achieving them.
So first you write down 25 goals in your life fixed to one genre. Like for example, you are looking for a job, so write down your top 25 priorities of companies you wish to work in, then circle the five topmost favourites of your choice and start working on these alone (by alone I mean to let go of the rest 20). You can also use it on your regular tasks list, note down your top 25 goals or tasks that you wish to work on, circle the five important ones and start working, leave the rest. You can do the same thing when creating lists for your weekly, quarterly, and long-term strategic goals. Baam! You will see your productivity boost up. I did apply this rule recently in my life and I am sure most of you might think I am not experienced in using this rule but the fact it really helped me sort things out and increased my focus made me write this down today.
The key is not the numbers (25 and 5)—it's the principle behind those numbers. Namely, that it's easy to come up with things you really want to do, but it's even easier to get distracted from actually making progress on those five things because you get caught up in the excitement, the joy, the short-term gains of things that simply aren't as important. That's why it's so important to identify the "less important" things, so you know exactly what's holding you back.
The important thing is not to make a long list but rather to identify the actions that are keeping you from reaching your goals and how you can avoid them.
The most important lesson you can learn from the 5/25 rule is the value of focus. Focusing on a few things at a time means you devote more time and energy to those things, giving them the attention they deserve. Once you complete those first five goals, you’ll no doubt feel more successful and confident.
So, the next time you find yourself getting distracted, remember the 25/5 rule.
Switch your focus from what you could be working on to what you should be working on.
Stay focused, stay safe! Bye for now!
Best
Ganga
Disclaimer: All the thoughts and ideas discussed are exclusively the author’s individual thoughts and do not represent any association/foundation/individuals the author is related to. Anything that may have hurt the sentiments of any group or groups of individuals is inadvertent and without malice. The author at no point means to demonize or insult any religion, practice, gathering, or individual.