I think a lot about the volume-to-value ratio of my activities. It's a simple correlation I assess between how much of something I do or consume and how much value it adds.
I can read four pages of one book that contains more value than 400 pages in another book. That’s why I primarily read old books. Their volume-to-value ratio is more reliable than current best-sellers on similar topics.
I can eat an entire pizza, and while delicious, it has a low volume-to-value ratio. Pizza has an inverse relationship. The more I consume, the more unhealthy I get, the more value I lose.
A simple serving of spinach salad with all my favorite additions (onions, cucumber, Kalamata olives, broccoli sprouts, hard-boiled egg, chicken, mozzarella, olive oil, and red wine vinegar) is still delicious and has a high positive volume-to-value ratio.
Time has a volume-to-value ratio. So do relationships, workouts, skill development, TV, alcohol, podcasts, and just about everything else.
I make disciplined decisions, in part, by looking for ways to keep my volume-to-value ratio as close to 1-to-1 as possible. It varies because life is variable, but I try to stay aware of the ratio in whatever I do. That awareness often improves the quality of my decisions and makes a significant difference over time.
The time is now. Do the work.
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