The 5/25 Rule and the Sneaky Trap of the “Urgent” Life

We’re Not Failing… We’re Just Distracted

You ever feel like you’re running full speed… but not getting anywhere?
It’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of ambition.

It’s usually overcommitment.

We chase too many goals, say yes to too many good things, and spend all our time handling the urgent, instead of pursuing the important. And eventually, we burn out—not from doing too little, but from doing too much of the wrong things.

That’s why I want to introduce you to something every leader, dreamer, and vision-chaser needs to know:

The 5/25 Rule.

It’s a simple strategy, often credited to Warren Buffett (even if the origin story has taken on a life of its own), but the lesson holds either way.

What is the 5/25 Rule?

Here’s how it works:

1. Write down your top 25 goals.
   Think big picture—career, health, relationships, legacy, growth. Everything you feel pulled to do or become.
2. Circle your Top 5.
   These are your ride-or-die goals. The ones that feel aligned, urgent and important. The things that will move the needle.
3. Avoid the other 20 at all costs.
   Not because they aren’t valuable. But because they’re dangerous. They distract you from your Top 5 by making you feel “productive” while keeping you from being effective.

Oof. If you’re a high-capacity woman with a tender heart and a full calendar, that one hits.

Because the truth is: we don’t need more goals—we need more clarity.

Urgent vs. Important: The Classic Trap

This is where the 5/25 Rule becomes more than just a productivity hack—it becomes a leadership filter.

If you’ve ever studied the Eisenhower Matrix, you know it divides your tasks into four quadrants:

1. Urgent & Important
2. Not Urgent but Important
3. Urgent but Not Important
4. Not Urgent or Important

The danger zone is Quadrant 3.

That’s where most of us live—handling “urgent” things that aren’t actually important. Emails, favors, “quick calls,” putting out other people’s fires. You know the drill.

Meanwhile, the most valuable things—your important but not urgent goals—get pushed to the bottom of the list. And we justify it because we’re “busy.” But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

“Being busy is not the same as being effective.”

And being needed is not the same as being called.

When the House is on Fire…

Let’s talk about what happens in a crisis.

When the proverbial house is on fire, everybody rushes in with good intentions. It’s all hands on deck. The team grabs buckets. Someone yells for a hose. Everyone scrambles, doing whatever they can to put out the flames.

But you know what’s often missing?

Someone—anyone—pausing long enough to ask:

“Where did the fire actually start?”

And that’s the role of a wise leader. Not to avoid the flames, but to resist the adrenaline rush of busyness long enough to think clearly. To zoom out. To track the smoke. To say, “Hey, this isn’t just about today’s crisis. It’s about what we ignored yesterday.”

Because if you’re always fighting fires… eventually, your brilliance burns out.

In business, this looks like:

• Constantly reacting to customer complaints, instead of improving the system that’s causing them.
• Scrambling to hit deadlines, instead of planning margin and space for your real priorities.
• Running hard toward goals that were never fully defined—just urgent.

Why the 5/25 Rule Matters Even More in High-Stakes Seasons

It’s easy to say “focus on what matters” when life is calm. But the true test of leadership is what you protect when everything feels urgent.

If you wait until your Top 5 goals are on fire… it might be too late.
Important missions have to be identified, named, and tended to before they become urgent.

Otherwise, you’ll spend your days with a firehose in your hands, wondering why nothing ever really changes.

A Final Thought: When “Yes” Comes at a Cost

Here’s a little gut-check I’ve been sitting with lately:

If saying YES to something I want to do means I have to HURRY through things that are actually important…
Maybe the answer isn’t no forever.

Maybe it’s just no for now.

Because what’s the point of chasing a shiny new opportunity if it forces you to rush through your real responsibilities with half your heart and none of your presence?

Leadership isn’t just about choosing what we say yes to—it’s about knowing when it’s the right time.

✍🏽 Journal Prompts:

1. What are my Top 25 dreams, ideas, or goals right now?
2. Which 5 would I pursue even if no one clapped?
3. What urgent things have I been prioritizing over my most important ones—and why?
4. Is there anything I’ve said yes to that’s causing me to hurry through the important work? What would it look like to pause or reprioritize?

🛠️ Want Help Sorting the Noise?

If your brain feels cluttered with good ideas but no clear direction, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

This is where clarity coaching or even a session with my AI sidekick (yes, really) can work wonders.
Because sometimes all you need is a mirror—and a plan.

✨ If you’re ready to shine light on your top priorities, let’s talk. Your brilliance deserves room to breathe.