If everyone is the GOAT, no one is the GOAT

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This term for Greatest Of All Time has been increasingly used in our culture over the last few years, to the point that any post on social media about a sportsperson, or even business leader it seems will lead to a GOAT reference or emoji.

I once made a speech, a pitch to business leaders, to support a Microfinance program. I got some feedback from a colleague that was invaluable. "It was a little confusing", they said. "Throughout you kept saying 'this is really important', referring to many different things". I realised that by saying everything was important, nothing I said was of any importance.

If everyone is the GOAT, no one is the GOAT.

If you highlight everything in your workbook, nothing is highlighted.

If you have 10 priorities, nothing is a priority.

The fewer things, priorities, to-dos that we have, means that those that remain hold higher significance. Effective decision making is partly about aligning what we value with what is significant.

Spend a significant amount of time/resources/energy/money on what you value, and cut the rest.