Thinking about new year’s resolutions is fun.
It is motivating and makes you look forward to the new year. But as the first weeks of the year pass, you get distracted from your goals and the motivation fades.
In the blink of an eye, you find yourself thinking about the following year’s resolutions without achieving much that year.
Goal setting is not an easy exercise and there are different reasons why most new year’s resolutions fail. But one of the main reasons is a lack of focus.
The 5/25 Rule can help you with that. It has three steps:
- List the 25 things you want to achieve next year: Fitness goals, career targets, new side hustles, the things you want to learn…
If you’ve set your new year’s resolutions; you probably have most of them ready. - Decide on the 5 most important ones from the list. The first one or two will be easy to choose, but the last choices will be tough.
- Now you have 5 goals that you’ll focus on this year. What will you do with the rest?
You will avoid them at all costs. They are your distractions. They will keep you from achieving your top five goals.
Focus on a few, achieve more
Crossing the 20 goals off your list is painful, but it’s the only way to stay focused on —and achieve— your priorities.
You can also use it for your daily, weekly, or monthly goals. You probably have 25 things to do next week, but which 5 will be your priority? And what are the ones you should avoid at all costs?
The 5/25 rule is attributed to Warren Buffett, though he denied it in one of the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder meetings. Regardless of who invented it, it’s a useful tool to prioritize your goals and keep your focus intact.
Enjoyed this article?
Then you’ll love the How Brands Win Newsletter.
Get the “5 Mental Models to Differentiate Your Business” guide when you join. It’s free.