Don't Optimize Your Life (Do This Instead)

Summary

This video delves into the concept of 'optimization', questioning its role in personal life improvement. It suggests that striving for perfection in every life aspect is overwhelming and unattainable. Instead, the speaker advocates for a balanced approach, focusing on key areas that align with one's goals and applying the Pareto Principle to achieve significant results with minimal effort. The video encourages viewers to prioritize what truly matters, using the 20% of effort that yields 80% of the desired outcomes.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The concept of 'optimization' is often misunderstood as striving for perfection in all aspects of life, which can be overwhelming and unrealistic.
• 📚 According to Webster's Dictionary, optimization is about making something as perfect, functional, or effective as possible, originating from 'optimus' meaning best.
• 🧐 The speaker argues that true optimization is not needed in most personal life cases, but improving each area to a certain point is beneficial.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The idea of personal optimization is contrasted with professional examples like Olympic athletes or business operations, which have clear goals and outcomes.
• 🎯 The speaker suggests using a list of life areas to rate current satisfaction and set realistic goals, rather than aiming for unrealistic perfection.
• 🤝 The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) is introduced as a strategy for self-improvement, suggesting that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes.
• 📉 The principle implies that striving for the last 20% of improvement in any area requires much more effort than the initial 80%, and may not be necessary for overall life satisfaction.
• 🔑 The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on the 20% of inputs that matter most, which can lead to a balanced and good life without excessive demands on time and mental health.
• 🛠️ The script encourages viewers to apply the Pareto Principle by identifying key areas of life they want to improve and focusing their efforts there, rather than trying to optimize everything.
• 🚀 The speaker acknowledges that some areas of life may require more intense focus and optimization, but this should be a conscious choice, not a default approach to all aspects of life.
• 💡 The final message is to apply selective optimization and the 80/20 rule to self-improvement, focusing on what aligns with one's desired lifestyle and letting go of the rest.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the concept of 'optimization' in the context of self-improvement and how it might be applied in our lives.

What does the term 'optimization' mean according to Webster's Dictionary?

According to Webster's Dictionary, 'optimization' is the act, process, or methodology of making something such as the design, system, or decision as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.

Why does the speaker suggest that striving for optimization in every area of life might be overwhelming?

The speaker suggests that striving for optimization in every area of life might be overwhelming because it involves a significant amount of time and effort, potentially leaving little room for actual living.

What is the speaker's argument against the pursuit of true optimization in most areas of life?

The speaker argues that true optimization is not needed in most cases, and instead, it's more beneficial to improve each area of life to a certain point, rather than aiming for perfection.

What is the Pareto Principle, and how does it relate to the concept of optimization discussed in the video?

The Pareto Principle states that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In relation to optimization, it suggests that to achieve significant improvement, one should focus on the most impactful 20% of inputs, rather than trying to optimize every aspect.

How does the speaker define 'joy' in the context of the video?

The speaker defines 'joy' as 'An inner sense of wellbeing that cannot be shaken,' which is a state of contentment and peace that remains consistent regardless of external circumstances.

What is the speaker's view on the existence of a 'perfect life'?

The speaker believes that the 'perfect life' does not exist, as life is dynamic and constantly changing, with new issues and opportunities for improvement always arising.

What is the significance of the Amex mouse mentioned in the video as an example of a well-optimized design?

The Amex mouse is mentioned as an example of a well-optimized design because it has been refined over generations, improving on its features and becoming the most popular productivity mouse in the world.

How does the speaker suggest using the Pareto Principle in the context of personal life improvement?

The speaker suggests using the Pareto Principle by focusing on the most important 20% of inputs in areas of life one wishes to improve, rather than trying to optimize every aspect, which can be less demanding on time, finances, and mental health.

What is the speaker's approach to goal setting based on the areas of life listed in the video?

The speaker's approach to goal setting involves rating one's current life in various areas on a scale of 1 to 10, determining where one intends to be at the end of a set time period, and defining what those numbers mean in practical terms.

How does the speaker differentiate between happiness and joy in the context of personal improvement?

The speaker differentiates between happiness and joy by describing happiness as a fleeting feeling that comes and goes, while joy is an inner sense of wellbeing that remains constant and unshaken.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Paradox of Life Optimization

The video script begins by challenging the notion of life optimization, suggesting that striving for perfection in every aspect of life can be overwhelming and ultimately unattainable. The speaker introduces the concept of 'optimization' as a buzzword in self-improvement circles, derived from the Latin word 'optimus' meaning 'best'. They argue that while the idea of making life as perfect as possible sounds appealing, it can lead to a focus on routines and rituals at the expense of actual living. The speaker proposes that true optimization is not necessary in most areas of life, but rather, improving each area to a certain point is more practical. They emphasize the importance of living a better life, not a perfect one, and highlight the inevitability of new issues and changes in life that make complete optimization impossible.

05:01

🤔 Defining Personal Optimization Goals

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the question of what areas of life should be optimized and what the goals of such optimization might be. They suggest that individuals should consider what they are optimizing for, such as happiness, productivity, or financial freedom. The speaker introduces a method for setting personal goals by evaluating current life satisfaction in various areas and setting intentions for improvement. They emphasize the importance of being realistic and not aiming for perfection in every area. The speaker uses the example of a character named Joe to illustrate how one might assess their current life satisfaction and set goals for improvement. They also discuss the potential sacrifices involved in optimizing certain areas of life, such as the time and effort required to achieve a high level of physical fitness.

10:04

📈 Applying the Pareto Principle to Life Improvement

The final paragraph focuses on the application of the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes, to personal life improvement. The speaker suggests that instead of striving for perfection in every aspect of life, individuals should focus their efforts on the most impactful 20% of activities that will lead to significant improvements. They argue that this approach is less demanding on time, finances, and mental health, and encourages viewers to identify these key areas in their lives. The speaker also acknowledges that some areas may require more effort, such as achieving a high level of physical fitness, but emphasizes that not everything can be optimized simultaneously. They conclude by encouraging viewers to focus on what is truly important to them and to apply the Pareto Principle to their self-improvement efforts.

Keywords

💡Optimization

Optimization, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is the act, process, or methodology of making something as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible. In the context of the video, it is presented as a buzzword in self-improvement, suggesting the pursuit of perfection in various aspects of life. The speaker argues that while optimization can be beneficial, striving for perfection in every area can lead to overwhelming efforts and sacrifices, which may not be necessary or desirable.

💡Self-improvement

Self-improvement is a central theme in the video, referring to the process of making oneself better in various aspects of life. The speaker discusses the concept of optimization in relation to self-improvement, suggesting that while it can be a part of personal growth, the pursuit of perfection through optimization can be overwhelming and may not lead to a balanced life.

💡Perfection

Perfection, in the video, is associated with the idea of making something as perfect as possible, which is derived from the Latin word 'optimus' meaning 'best'. The speaker challenges the notion of striving for perfection in all areas of life, arguing that it can be unrealistic and lead to a loss of focus on what truly matters.

💡Design

In the video, design is used as an example of something that can be optimized. The speaker mentions a computer mouse, the Amex master, as an example of a well-optimized design that has evolved over generations to improve its features and functionality. This illustrates how optimization can be applied in a practical, business context.

💡System

The concept of a system is discussed in relation to optimization, particularly with the example of YouTube's algorithm. The speaker describes how this system is constantly tweaked and adjusted to keep viewers on the platform for as long as possible, highlighting the continuous improvement process inherent in system optimization.

💡Decision

Decision optimization is mentioned as a legitimate business model in the video. The speaker explains that it involves using mathematical algorithms and business rules to generate the best statistical decision for a business. This concept is used to illustrate how optimization can be applied in a strategic, business context.

💡Personal performance

Personal performance is discussed in the context of Olympic athletes, who are seen as epitomes of optimization. The speaker uses this example to contrast the personal nature of striving for excellence in one's own life with the business-oriented approach to optimization.

💡Pareto Principle

The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is introduced as a concept that can be applied to personal life improvement. The speaker explains that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes, suggesting that focusing on the most impactful 20% of efforts can lead to significant improvements without the need for exhaustive optimization.

💡Sacrifice

Sacrifice is a concept that the speaker discusses in the context of optimization. The speaker points out that optimizing one area of life, such as physical fitness, may require sacrificing other areas like family, friends, or time. This highlights the trade-offs involved in the pursuit of optimization.

💡Balance

Balance is a key concept in the video, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded approach to life improvement rather than focusing on optimization in every area. The speaker suggests that striving for a balanced life with a mix of sevens and eights in different areas can be more fulfilling and less demanding than trying to achieve perfection.

💡Goals

Goals are discussed as a crucial part of personal improvement, with the speaker suggesting that setting realistic goals based on personal values and priorities is more effective than striving for optimization in all areas. The speaker uses the example of rating different areas of life on a scale of 1 to 10 to illustrate how to set and work towards meaningful goals.

Highlights

The concept of 'optimization' is critiqued as an overused buzzword in self-improvement, suggesting a potentially unhealthy pursuit of perfection.

Webster's Dictionary defines 'optimization' as making something as perfect, functional, or effective as possible, derived from the Latin 'optimus' meaning 'best'.

The video proposes a critical examination of the desire to optimize all aspects of life, suggesting it may lead to overwhelming stress rather than improvement.

The speaker argues that true optimization is not necessary in most life areas, advocating for improvement to a reasonable extent instead.

The idea of living a 'perfect life' is challenged, with the assertion that a more realistic goal is to live a 'better life'.

The transcript discusses the impracticality of trying to optimize every life area due to the time-consuming nature of such an endeavor.

Examples of well-optimized designs, such as the Amex computer mouse, are given to illustrate the concept in a business context.

YouTube's algorithm is presented as an example of an optimized system, constantly tweaked to retain viewer engagement.

Decision optimization as a business model is introduced, involving mathematical algorithms to generate the best statistical decisions for a business.

The transcript differentiates between business optimization and personal performance, using Olympic athletes as an example of personal optimization.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) is introduced as a strategy for self-improvement, suggesting that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes.

The concept of focusing on the most impactful 20% of inputs in life areas is proposed as a more balanced approach to personal growth.

The transcript suggests that striving for optimization in one area may necessitate de-optimization in others due to the sacrifices involved.

The importance of defining what 'full optimization' means in personal terms is emphasized for setting realistic goals.

The speaker shares personal categories of life to consider when setting goals, such as 'time', 'possessions', and 'joy'.

The transcript concludes by encouraging viewers to apply the Pareto Principle to their lives, focusing major effort on a few key areas rather than spreading efforts thin.

Transcripts

There is no aspect of human life

you couldn't be doing better.

How does that statement make you feel?

Pretty bad, right?

Actually, that's just another way to say

one of the most overused buzzwords in self-improvement right now.

Optimization.

In today's video, I want to step back and look at optimization

as a whole and see when it might make sense in our lives.

I also want to share a few tools for determining

when optimization might make sense, and some alternatives

when it doesn't. According to Webster's Dictionary.

Optimization is an act,

process, or methodology of making something such as the design

system or decision as fully perfect,

functional, or effective as possible.

Optimize stems from Latin, “optimus” meaning best. On the surface,

this actually sounds pretty great.

In fact, it almost sounds like the ultimate manifestation

of self improvement that our entire life is

“as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.”

Plus, it stems from the word best.

And aren't we all just trying to live our best lives?

And if that's the case, doesn't

it make sense to optimize our lives on the surface?

Yes. Great.

But let's think about this for a minute.

Now, each of us has, depending on who you ask.

Somewhere between like ten and fifteen different areas within our lives.

You could continue to split this up further or condense a few of these.

But regardless of a few more or few less, to me at least,

I know I would feel incredibly overwhelmed trying

to optimize every single one of these areas of my life.

My argument in this video is that true optimization

is not needed in most cases.

It is, however, beneficial to improve

each area of your life to a certain point.

Now that makes sense to me.

That's what this channel is all about.

Living a better life.

Not living a perfect life.

Because I don't believe the perfect life exists.

If we truly tried to optimize every area of our life,

we would spend so much time optimizing or following our routines and rituals

for optimization that we would have very little life left for living.

And even if we did manage to optimize every area of our lives,

we all know that life doesn't work like that.

It's never as simple as we dream.

There will always be new issues that arise, better ways

to do things, or a newer, better version.

So who is optimization for and what exactly is it for?

Well, looking at the definition, we see that we have something

such as a design, a system or decision,

and making it as fully perfect, functional or effective as possible.

Now think about that for a second.

If we're talking about design, for example,

I might argue that a well optimized design is this computer mouse.

That's the Amex master.

Yes, there have been generations

of this design, each one improving on the features of the last.

It's some combination of the features, form factor and marketing

that has made this the most popular productivity mouse in the world.

Eventually, though, there will likely be a more optimized version.

What about a well optimized system?

Well, I would say, for example, YouTube's algorithm is an incredibly

well optimized system is constantly being tweaked

and adjusted with the goal of keeping you and I,

the viewers on the platform for the longest amount of time.

It prioritizes content people click and spend time on, and deprioritizes content

people don't click or click away from quickly.

This is an incredibly well optimized system that is being continuously improved

to better suit the business's purpose.

What about a well optimized decision?

That's a little more tricky, but in general, I would say a well

optimized decision would be one that is a win win for the stakeholders involved.

Now, Decision Optimization is actually a legitimate business model.

It's literally a system that applies mathematical algorithms to input data

and business rules to generate the best statistical decision for the business,

which is actually kind of cool.

I did not know that existed until I was doing research for this video.

What do all of these have in common?

Well, they're all some sort of business output or business operation.

They're not personal.

Now, when I think of personal performance, the Olympics

starts this week and so of course, I think of Olympic athletes.

To me, they're the epitome of optimization,

putting in tireless, countless hours

trying to eke out every little piece of performance possible.

When you think about it, that's a personal thing.

But also it's definitely a business thing, right?

There is money and social capital involved.

Now we come to you and I

individuals just trying to improve our personal lives.

What areas of our lives should we optimize?

My question to that would be what are we optimizing for?

A business at some point in the process

is optimizing for profitability.

Are we optimizing for happiness?

Are we optimizing for maximum work output?

Are we optimizing for financial freedom?

Are we optimizing to become a human productivity robot?

This is where optimization and goals collide.

So let's go back to our list from earlier

of these 12 different areas of your life.

You can add and subtract to your liking, but this list is

where I start when I'm making my goals for the year.

I'll look at this list and rate my current life

on a scale of 1 to 10 based on this list, ten

being fully optimized or the best and one being it could not be worse.

It's terrible.

I'll go through the list and rank those, and then I will look forward to

at the end of this time period, be it a year, six months, whatever it is.

I'll then look at where do I intend to be and each of these areas.

Now it's important to be realistic with this.

It would be totally ridiculous to make each of those areas.

I intend to be a ten in all of these areas.

I don't think that's possible.

For this example, I'll create a friend.

Let's call him Joe.

Joe sits down to do this exercise and he lists out

where he's at currently in all of these 12 areas.

Then Joe lists where he intends to be at the end of the time period.

Now, he also concretely defines what that number means.

This is a really important piece in the process.

So Joe says I'm at a five right now in joy.

I want to be at an eight in joy.

To me, an eight in joy means feeling peace

and calm every day when I get home from work.

Great.

So Joe now has a great idea

of where he needs to focus his time and attention this year.

Then he can build and define his goals based on this result.

You are welcome to define any of these categories however you'd like.

There are three of these categories I want to touch on personally.

One is time.

This is an area that I've added to the list in the last several years.

Now every piece on this list takes time and that's not what I'm measuring here,

but I'm looking at is do I like how I'm spending my time?

And do I like the pace of my current life?

If not, then something needs to change.

Number two is possessions.

Now, I believe we will never be fully satisfied with the things we have.

And this is not what I'm really looking at here.

Instead, I'm looking at how much are possessions or material things ruling me

and how content am I with what I currently have.

One of my favorite quotes from author Joshua Fields Millburn is “Love

people use things because the opposite never works.”

That is exactly what I'm looking at here.

Number three is joy.

Now, some people would put happiness here.

I personally believe that happiness is more of a feeling that comes and goes.

So I prefer to focus on joy.

My favorite definition of joy is

“An inner sense of wellbeing that cannot be shaken.”

To me, that seems like a goal worth pursuing.

So once you've gone through this list

of where you are currently and where you intend to be,

if one of those areas you intend to be is a ten.

Well, that is an area you need to optimize for, right?

That's an area you're looking.

at and you're saying that is I want to be the best in that area.

I want this to be the best it possibly can be.

Are you sure?

First of all.

Second of all, if you are well, that's great.

Then go for it.

Now know that if you optimize for one thing, there's a pretty good chance

that you will have to deoptimize in other areas to some extent.

So for example, if Joe put a ten for body,

maybe he wanted to compete in a bodybuilding show

or something was a pretty good chance he'd need to sacrifice quite a few other

areas of his life in order to optimize for body.

So he might have to make sacrifices in the area of family, friends,

time, money, maybe romance.

Again, optimization takes a ton of time.

Think about that Olympic athlete, right?

Their entire life revolves around training to become the best athlete they can.

Now, if there's something

that you want to optimize for, I do think that is a worthy goal to pursue.

But no, you can't optimize everything.

And also it will require some sacrifice in other areas.

But what about the rest of us?

What about those of us who want to have just kind of a balanced, overall

good life, like a bunch of sevens and eights?

One of my overall favorite ideas is the Pareto Principle.

This idea states that 80% of outcomes

come from 20% of causes,

and this can be applied broadly across many different areas of your life.

The theory here related to optimization is that in order to optimize something,

you must go for that last 20%.

Those last 20% of gains would take

exponentially more effort

and time than the first 80%.

But if you're looking at the rest of the areas in your life,

maybe you're okay with an eight out of ten in an area that's actually really good.

Well, according to this principle, you can get there with 20% of the inputs.

To me, this is the sweet spot when it comes to self-improvement.

Letting go of 80% of those inputs and focusing on the most important

20% of inputs.

This to me seems like it has less demands on my time,

my wallet, and on my mental health.

It's not an easy approach, but

it's a simple approach to self-improvement.

It is also personally helped me wade through the shoulds that we're constantly

bombarded with, oh, you should be doing there should be doing this.

An easy thing to ask is, what is this, a 20% thing?

Or is this an 80% thing?

And if it's an 80% thing, just let go of it.

It's really helped me just focus on

what is important to me or what works well for me.

So how would one go about applying the 8020 rule?

Well, if there's an area of your life you want to improve in

and you don't need to optimize it, but you just want to make it better,

it would start with some basic research,

of course, and then just some trial and error.

You won't get this right

the first time, and that's just part of the process of self-improvement.

I think it's fun.

Now some people will say,

okay, yeah, but you're just coasting by with a bunch of sevens and eights.

That's not really what I'm saying.

I personally have some areas of my life, have two areas of my life right now

that are nines to me, that those are what I'm intending for.

I'm going for them.

I'm putting significantly more effort into those areas than I am

into a lot of other areas of my life, and so chasing hard things is really good.

There have been times in my life where things have been

ten like work at times has been a ten out of ten for me.

I've wanted to optimize for maximum output and maximum productivity

and that's just not the case right now, right?

This will change back and forth over time as you continue to grow as a person.

So am I saying you should quit watching those?

“How to optimize for maximum gains in the gym”, or “How to optimize

for the perfect night of sleep” videos or podcasts or things?

Well, no, I'm not saying you need to stop watching those.

I think those are actually great research.

But then just take what's important to you.

Take those 20% of things that feel important to you

and apply those to your life.

And there's no need to focus on the minutia in most cases,

unless you are truly trying to optimize that one thing.

So overall, in summary, here's what I'm saying.

What if instead of trying to make everything in your life perfect,

you put 20% of your effort into 80% of your life

and put the remainder of your effort into a few specific things

that strongly align with the life that you want to live.