Leverage: The Art of High-Impact Choices
Why Not Choices Are Made Equal
Early decisions that determine direction have more leverage than late decisions that determine specifics.
Every day we're thrown into a sea of choices. Professional. Personal. Some are as mundane as whether to put milk in our coffee (no), others as monumental as choosing the next turn in our career path.
Not all choices have the same impact on our lives. Similarly, different activities we can engage in will have varying impacts on the future. The greater the impact a change of a thing today will have on the future, the more leverage that thing has.
Imagine leading a business project. The type of business model you choose will affect dozens of people’s decisions for months to come and has a lot more impact than a specific choice about pricing later down the road. Early decisions that determine direction have more leverage than late decisions that determine specifics.
Similarly, if I spend my weekend with my best friends, we’ll have a great time — even if it’s just hanging out. On the other hand, the coolest location on Earth will suck if my company sucks. My social circle has a higher leverage than the location I am in.
While all options and choices in front of us often seem essential, in reality, Not all choices we face are equally relevant for the future that will unfold. In fact, most don’t really matter at all. But some do. A lot.
Thinking of the leverage of different aspects of a situation or of the problems we are challenged to solve can focus our attention on that which matters most. Personally and professionally.
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