May 8, 2025
There’s an old saying that goes, “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
But here’s a twist I’ve come to appreciate: if a job is not worth doing… maybe it’s not worth doing well. Maybe it’s not worth doing at all.
That sounds lazy at first. But listen—this isn’t about cutting corners on the important stuff. It’s about not pouring your energy into polishing the unimportant. Don’t alphabetize your junk drawer if you’re already late to a friend’s birthday. Don’t spend thirty minutes adjusting margins on a memo no one’s going to read. Don’t lose sleep over making something perfect when “done” was good enough five hours ago.
There’s a kind of wisdom in strategic laziness. In knowing what to let go of. In choosing where you shine.
An anonymous, but delightfully irreverent internet forum poster, gave us the gift of The Economics of Ass. The idea? You don’t need to go whole-ass on every task. Sometimes, half-ass is exactly the right investment.
It’s not about slacking. It’s about being smart with your limited supply of ass. Your energy, time, attention—they’re all part of the same currency. You can’t spend full price everywhere. And not every situation deserves your most premium effort.
Folding the laundry? Maybe half-ass. Making art, being kind, showing up for someone who’s struggling? That’s where your whole-ass budget should go.
The contours of tomorrow aren’t shaped by how neatly you folded that fitted sheet. They’re shaped by your presence in the things that matter. Your care, your spark, your attention—those are sacred resources. Use them where they can do real good.
Because the future doesn’t need perfection. It needs intention. It needs people who know when to hold back—and when to give their all.
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