5 things you must do, and 20 you shouldn't

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I recently heard a story about Warren Buffett giving his private pilot some life-changing advice.

Imagine being so successful that even your pilot gets career coaching.

Anyway, Buffett shared a 3-step strategy for setting goals. It feels like a wake-up call for anyone who thinks multitasking is the key to success.

Here’s the method:

1. Write down the 25 things you want to accomplish this year. Yes, 25—because we all think we’re superheroes.

2. Circle the 5 most important ones. Only 5—because if everything is important, nothing is.

3. Now, what do you do with the other 20?

When Buffett asked his pilot this, he said, “I’ll work on them here and there.”

Buffett’s response? “No, you can’t do that.”

Why? Because those other 20 are now your avoid-at-all-costs list. You can’t touch them until your top 5 are completed.

It’s brutal but brilliant: top performers focus obsessively on a few priorities and treat everything else like it’s a toxic ex texting at midnight.

If you have a lot of goals and dreams floating around your mind, this one’s for you.

Welcome to inspired idiots!

“I can juggle multiple priorities and still succeed.”

We’ve all been there—thinking we can tackle 17 goals at once because we’re special.

But I’d bet my bottom dollar that you’re barely scratching away at some of those goals. You’re keeping yourself busy with 17 things to think about every day, but ask yourself,

“How many of these goals am I actually making real progress on?”

I would guess very few, if you’ve got over five. And hey—I’m guilty of this too. Let’s go through this together.

1. Write down all your goals for the year—every single one of them (yes, even “learn to play the ukulele”).

2. Ruthlessly circle the top 5 that will actually move the needle in your life or career.

3. Treat the remaining 20 like they’re radioactive—do not touch them until your top 5 are done. If tempted, remember: spreading yourself too thin is how pancakes happen, not progress.

This forces you to focus on what truly matters while eliminating distractions—even ones disguised as “good” opportunities:

• Focus breeds excellence: Trying to do everything is like boiling the ocean—it’s exhausting and pointless.

• Decision fatigue disappears: You won’t waste time agonizing over what to tackle next because you’ve already decided upfront.

• You stop chasing shiny objects: Saying no to lesser priorities frees you from FOMO (Fear of Mediocre Opportunities).

Plus, there’s something darkly satisfying about crossing off an entire list of goals with one big “NOPE.”

Do fewer things, better—and don’t let guilt trick you into multitasking mediocrity.

Every time you say “yes” to something outside your top 5, you’re saying “no” to what truly matters.

So channel your inner Warren Buffett and make “no” your default… unless someone offers free pizza or eternal youth—then maybe reconsider.

Reply and tell me: What’s one goal you’re crossing off?
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