On the Tim Ferriss Show #668 he and Derek Sivers discuss the difference between “maximizers” and “satisfizers“, noting that satisfizers are happier. By satisfizers they mean someone who seeks good enough, or satisfactory, rather than optimal in all things.
By definition, you can’t optimize everything. If everything is a priority then nothing is.
Currently, I am aiming to optimize for energy.
Everyone has the same number of hours in the day; therefore, hours can’t be a significant differentiator. Energy is the currency and key differentiator for high achievers.
Focusing on energy is both simple and powerful. Distilling everything down to “does this energize me or drain me?” is easy to remember and act on, while at the same time affecting everything else automatically.
It’s the inverse of worrying about 1,000 different things, which is exhausting, hard to turn into action, and ultimately doesn’t really affect anything (because you’re too busy worrying, strategizing, theorizing to actually do anything).
Just optimize for energy and, outside of that focus, let the chips fall where they may.
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