One military principle saved my marriage 100+ times. But it also works wonders for business owners and other leaders:
“Choose your battles.”
In combat, it’s obvious:
You don’t engage every enemy.
You don’t chase every threat.
You don’t fire at every target.
Because resources run out:
→ Energy
→ Ammo
→ Time
And wasted resources get people killed.
Marriage is no different.
Yet I watch people make a habit of:
→ Fighting every argument
→ Correcting every mistake
→ Proving every point
Most battles don’t need fighting.
Most points don’t need proving.
Most issues dissolve on their own.
Here’s the actionable item that changed everything for me:
The 10-10-10 Rule:
Before engaging in any conflict, ask yourself:
Will this matter in…
• 10 minutes?
• 10 months?
• 10 years?
If it’s not a “yes” for at least two, walk away.
Yesterday, my wife cut me off mid-sentence.
(Again. She’s faster than me. I’ve accepted this 😄)
→ 10 minutes? Barely.
→ 10 months? No.
→ 10 years? Not a chance.
Battle avoided. Energy saved. Relationship stronger.
Your challenge:
– Apply the 10-10-10 rule to your next potential conflict.
Sometimes, the biggest victories come from the battles you choose not to fight.
What battle will you NOT fight today?
PS. Turns out my wife runs on compliments. Might just be her… but worth testing on yours this week 😄
PS: Enjoy this?
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