Weekly Bookmarks –
124th Edition – June 20, 2021
Numbers rule the universe.
Pythagoras
Many of us are fascinated with numbers which explains the profession that chose us to feed the enumerate. I’m not even close to being a Pythagoras who believed truth could be found in numbers, but I’m amazed at some of the rules of life that are grounded in a number. Here are five to consider this week.
1. The 40% Rule
In my 30s, I enjoyed running 5ks to the point where I worked my derriere off to keep achieving PRs (personal records) about every 3 months.
One hot summer, I ran a 5:45 in my first mile. I was dead the rest of the way. That was about 25 seconds too fast from typical first mile. I had nothing left in the tank.
The 40% Rule says I could have done more. In short, that maxim states when you are maxed out, you’re only 40% of the way to the finish line. Do you agree?
For additional insights: Living With a Seal by Jesse Itzler
2. The 10X Rule
Dan Sullivan is the founder of The Strategic Coach. I attended the Foundations series over a course of three years, and 10X came up frequently in my workshops held in Chicago.
Grant Cardone has also popularized the 10X concept with a rule with the same name. He believes in 10x goals with 10x actions to achieve those targets. I’m also thinking this is a first cousin of The 40% Rule.
For additional insights: The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
3. The 30-Day Rule
Many of us either do or have worked for businesses following the growth-is-always-good formula. Think restaurants, hotels, specialty retailers and certain service-based businesses that can easily scale.
Larry Burkett was the Dave Ramsey of my era. Larry used to tell the story of how he kicked his habit of buying tools on impulse. If he found a tool he wanted that he didn’t particularly need, he’d wait 30 days to buy it. When he reached that 30th day, many times he realized he didn’t want the tool after all. But there would be another tool he’d want, so the process would repeat.
The late Larry Burkett did not use willpower for exerting self-control. His tool was one of delayed gratification.
For additional insights: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister
4. Price’s Square Root Law of 50%
If you are a researcher, what’s more fun, conducting the study or writing the results?
I bet the British physicist enjoyed proving his theory that 50% of the work is done by the square root of the number of people who participate in the work.
Are we doomed to Price’s law, or can we be on the right side of the longtail where this rule of life does not exist?
For additional insights: Price’s Law: What It Is And Why You Should Care
5. Habits and The Rule of 66
According to a 2009 article in the European Journal of Social Psychology, the median time to form a new habit is 66 days. Easy behavioral changes take as few as 18 days. Others take more than 250 days.
Now you know why it’s hard to keep those resolutions each January 1st or why change is hard in the workplace.
For additional insights: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Recent Bookmarks – 123 | 122 | 121
Deep in the Archives – Bookmarks 72 – Father’s Day, A Dozen Rules of Management, Buffalo, Learning Goals.
Thank You For Reading. Thank you for making this a successful newsletter and happy Father’s Day.
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Always be learning and growing.
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