I’ve heard that Google has a 70/20/10 principle where:
- 70% of working hours are devoted to core competency and core revenue (“core business”)
- 20% is devoted to “adjacent” or revenue expanding activities (and ideas)
- 10% is devoted to long-term growth (“moon-shots”): ideas with a low-success rate or long runway, but super-high impact potential
This can apply to personal life or pursuits (career, athletics, side hustles, etc.). Assuming a weekly 40 hour “day job” which represents 70% of working hours (“core business”). The weekly hours breakdown is roughly as follows:
- 70% – Core business, core revenue – 40 hours (day job)
- 20% – Adjacent business, expanding revenue – 10 hours (side-hustle)
- 10% – “Moonshot ideas” – 5 hours (passion project)
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