Today we’re going over the 5/25 Rule to focus down a broad range of reasons to more specific reasons.

The 5/25 rule is commonly attributed to Warren Buffett, although there’s no direct confirmation from him that he ever formally named it that way, it mostly comes from a story involving his pilot, Mike Flint.

Here’s how it goes:

The 5/25 Rule (Focus Rule)

Step 1:​
Write down the 25 most important goals you want to achieve, this could be career goals, personal goals, life ambitions, etc.

Step 2:​
From that list, circle your top 5. These are your highest priorities, the goals that matter the most to you right now.

Step 3:​
Now you have two lists:

• Top 5 → Your absolute priorities list.
• The other 20 → Here’s the twist: this is your avoid-at-all-costs list.

The Lesson:

The point Buffett allegedly made is that the other 20 goals, while still important to you, are dangerous. Why? Because they’re distracting. They tempt you with a false sense of productivity but actually prevent you from going all-in on the Top 5.

✅ Your “Why” is the Top 5

In the context of self-build, when someone is trying to understand why they want to build their own home, beyond just saving money or getting more space, they’re trying to uncover their core motivations. The 5/25 rule helps filter out the noise:

• Out of 25 possible reasons someone might list; “good investment,” “more space,” “cool project,” “green design,” “escape renting,” “family stability,” etc. only a few will be deeply personal, non-negotiable, and emotionally charged.
• These few, likely no more than 3 to 5, are the true Why. The rest? They might be true or nice-to-have, but they’re not the real drivers.

🛠 Applied to Self-Build:

Let’s say someone comes to me or the MTBO Facebook Group and says:

The 5/25 exercise pushes them to go deeper. When they really sit with it, they might write the following:

1. I want to build to give my kids the stable home I never had.
2. I want the freedom to shape a space around my lifestyle, not the other way around.
3. I want to prove to myself that I can do hard things.
4. I want to live more sustainably.
5. I want this project to be my legacy.
6. I want a place my grandkids can visit and feel connected to.
7. I want to feel in control after years of instability or renting.
8. I want to design a home that supports my asthmatic child.
9. I want to build equity and have financial freedom earlier in life.
10. I want to stop compromising and start designing a life that fits me.
11. I want to wake up somewhere that inspires me every single day.
12. I want to create a forever home so I never have to move again.
13. I want to challenge the assumption that you need to be rich to build a house.
14. I want to feel pride in building something with my own two hands.
15. I want to craft a home that supports ageing in place with dignity.
16. I want to create a safe space for a loved one with health issues.
17. I want to stop paying into someone else’s mortgage and start building my own future.
18. I want to experiment with new ideas in architecture and energy efficiency.
19. I want to reconnect with the land and live closer to nature.
20. I want to escape the rat race and live life on my own terms.
21. I want to build a multi-generational home where my parents can age with support.
22. I want to learn new skills and become more self-reliant through the build process.
23. I want a creative outlet that feels meaningful and tangible.
24. I want to model resilience and boldness to my children.
25. I want to reconnect with a sense of purpose and direction.

Now we’re talking about identity, values, and long-term meaning, the real “Why.” Everything else is just surface level.

Their motivation for building is deeply rooted in legacy, stability, and personal growth. They want to give their children the safe, secure home they never had, while also setting an example of courage and self-reliance. Their self-build isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s a symbol of long-term freedom, both financial and emotional. For them, building a home is about leaving something meaningful behind and proving to themselves (and their kids) that bold action creates a better future.

What if I’m not sure?

You may still be undecided if building a house is the way you want to go. The thing with this rule is that it can be applied at a higher level. Why not try it with your over-arching life desires first instead?
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I did this activity (though not actually realising it was the 5-25 Rule until recently) in 2016 and it helped me focus down and change from being an employee to being a contractor to afford my first house. I also parked my flying hobby as it fell out of my top 5. At the time I can remember feeling lost and a potential failure if I didn’t achieve everything on my list. The reality was that I needed to focus on just a few things and at the time for me that was my career, family, health and knowledge.

As always, I’d love to hear from you. Hit this link to email me your top 5!​

Next up we are going to cover 1000 parallel universes, all at once. Might be a long one…

– Brendan
​Measure Twice, Build Once

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