Effort Capital

👋 Hi, legend!

With the constant push to do more, it's easy to assume that success comes from working longer hours and exerting more effort. But what if that belief is flawed? What if, instead of working more, the real key to high performance is working selectively? 

Top performers, whether in business, sports, or creative fields, understand that hard work alone doesn’t guarantee results. Instead, they focus on strategic effort, directing their energy toward the tasks that yield the greatest impact. This concept, which we’ll call selective effort, is about working smarter, not harder.

The Myth of "Hard Work"

We’ve all been taught that the secret to success is pushing through, grinding every day, and outworking the competition. While effort is undeniably important, indiscriminate effort can lead to burnout without meaningful progress.

I know it's an overly simplified analogy, but the reality is that not all work is created equal. True high performers don’t just work hard—they work on the right things.

The 80/20 Rule on Steroids

You may have heard of the Pareto Principle, otherwise known as the 80/20 rule. It suggests that 80% of your results stem from just 20% of your efforts. In other words, a small fraction of what you do is responsible for the vast majority of your success.

But let’s take this idea a step further.

What if, instead of just 80/20, we thought of it as 95/5? Meaning that just 5% of your actions drive 80% (or more) of your results. That’s where the real power of selective effort lies—focusing on the high-leverage tasks that create exponential impact while eliminating the rest.

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Where to Spend Your Energy

Think of your time and energy as effort capital—a limited resource that must be allocated wisely. If you invest it in too many places, you dilute its effectiveness. The key is to direct your capital to areas that produce the highest return.

Here’s how you can start:

⚓️ Identify core activities: What are the tasks that, if done consistently, will move the needle the most? This could be closing sales, training high-potential employees, or refining your craft.

🔪 Eliminate or delegate low-value Work: Many tasks we assume are "essential" are actually distractions. Emails, excessive meetings, and admin work often fall into this category. Delegate, automate, or cut them entirely.

🥊 Structure your work for impact: Instead of reacting to demands throughout the day, proactively design your schedule to prioritise deep, focused work on high-leverage activities.

Finding the Most Important 5%

To determine which tasks are truly worth your time, ask yourself:

📈 What activities have created disproportionate results in the past? Look at your biggest wins—what specific actions led to those successes?

🦋 Where do I add the most unique value? If a task can be done just as well by someone else, it’s probably not your highest-leverage work.

🤷 What would happen if I stopped doing this? If the answer is "not much," then that task might not be worth your time.

🧨 If I could only work 2 hours a day, what would I focus on? This forces you to identify the absolute most important tasks.

The Mindset Shift: From Hustle to Precision

Embracing selective effort requires a fundamental shift in thinking. Instead of measuring productivity by hours worked, start measuring by impact created. Success isn’t about how much energy you expend—it’s about how effectively you deploy it.

High performers understand that by doing less, but doing the right things, they achieve more. And when you master this approach, you’ll not only get better results, but you’ll also regain control over your time, and create a more sustainable path to success.

So, as you head into next week, ask yourself: Where can I apply selective effort to maximise my results?

Speak soon,

Zac

Disclaimer: The High Performance Brief is for general education purposes only. The content is not a substitute for professional healthcare or psychological services. If you have any health/mental health concerns, please consult a qualified professional.