Besides the bible, one of my favorite books to read has been ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene.
We’re all players in this game called life.
And if you want to win, you have to understand the rules.
Once you understand the laws that govern our thinking, behavior and actions, you unlock a higher level of consciousness.
Some laws are good to obey because failure may lead to your demise and ruin.
On the other hand, some laws unknowingly trap and enslave you.
Knowing when and how to break free of these laws gives you the time and energy to be productive, efficient, and successful.
I’ve realized that some of the most accomplished individuals in their field – athletes, music icons, and business leaders – break a few of these laws consistently.
So, what are these laws I speak of? More importantly, how can we also break these laws and reap the benefits?
#1 Parkinson’s Law
Parkinson’s Law states that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”.
In other words, if you give yourself a week to complete a task, it will likely take you a week, even if the task could be done in a day.
I have experienced this phenomenon countless times throughout my career, both in training and in business.
When preparing for a fight, I sometimes found myself taking longer to complete my training sessions, even when I knew I could finish them in less time.
The reverse happened whenever I accepted fights on short notice. Knowing I had far less time to prepare made me more focused and intentional in my training.
The same goes for meetings and projects in the business world. When given a deadline, we tend to take our time and stretch out the task, ultimately leading to procrastination and missed opportunities.
So, how can we manage Parkinson’s Law?
- Set a clear goal – Be specific with your goals. Set deadlines. This helps you stay focused and avoid taking longer time than necessary to finish.
- Prioritize – I’ve talked about this. Not all things are equal. Dedicate more time to things that matter. That’s not being lazy, it’s called being effective.
- Time management tools – Time management techniques like the Eisenhower Matric can help you stay organized and focused on the more important tasks.
#2 Goodhart’s Law
Goodhart’s Law states that “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure”.
This means that when we focus too much on a specific metric or target, it can lead to unintended consequences and negatively impact the very thing we are trying to improve.
Say, for instance, you’re an up-and-coming fighter who’s desperate to break into the pro ranks. Being too overly focused on wins and losses may blind you to more important things.
Are you improving? How is your technique? How was your performance under pressure? Did your conditioning last you till the end of the round?
A student who is solely focused on getting high grades may neglect other important aspects of their life such as relationships, physical health, and personal growth. This will undermine their development and inadvertently become counterproductive to their goals!
What are some actionable steps to break out of Goodhart’s Law?
- Broaden your perspective – Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Don’t fixate solely on one metric or goal.
- Celebrate progress – Recognize and celebrate small wins along the way. This helps you stay motivated and prevents burnout.
- Stay flexible – I’ve written about anti-fragility and how we should try to become more flexible as circumstances may change. Be willing to pivot when necessary.
The Law of Diminishing Returns
The law of diminishing returns states that after a certain point, increasing the number of inputs in a production process will not result in proportionate increases in output.
In other words, at some point, adding more resources to a task will not result in the same increase in productivity as before.
A real-life example of the law of diminishing returns is a farmer who wants to increase his crop yield.
At first, adding more fertilizer or water to the fields will result in higher yields. But after a certain point, adding more fertilizer or water will not result in a corresponding increase in crop yield.
What’s worse, it might even lead to decreased yields due to over-fertilization or waterlogged soil.
High performers know when to stop, quit and move on when they reach this point.
Here are some steps to counter this law:
- Focus on inputs – Focus on the right inputs can help you maximize productivity. For example, intensity vs. time spent in the gym
- Reassess inputs – Test to determine the optimum amount of inputs. This might change depending on the situation.
- Make adjustments – Make adjustments if necessary. That can include taking a hiatus or even walking away from something negative.