Must avoid at all costs

Warren Buffett is one of the most noteworthy investors of our time. He knows a thing or two about focusing.

One of his employees asked him how to get ahead in life. He suggested that the employee write down 25 things that he wanted to accomplish in the next few years. So the employee made a list of 25 things.

Buffett then asked the employee to circle 5 things on the list that were the most important. These 5 items, Buffett said, are the things that you need to focus on.

“What about the remaining 20?” the employee asked.

Buffett replied, “that’s your must avoid at all costs list.”

We should all have an avoid at all costs list because it keeps us focused. If you’re anything like me, you’ll suffer not from a lack of ideas, but from too many ideas. Our brains are pulled left and right, in this direction and that, but we need to focus. If we try and accomplish everything, we’ll actually accomplish nothing.