Is Your Life Overflowing? Time for the One-In-One-Out Rule

“You can do anything, but not everything.”

– David Allen

They can’t be serious?

After the meeting, I sat there, a little confused.

We’re one of this customer’s largest revenue generators, every new product we introduce is millions in incremental volume for them. They couldn’t possibly be serious about the one-in-one-out policy for us, could they?

At the time, I was still fairly new to my role as a key account manager, dealing with a large wholesaler. We were super excited about a new line extension for a brand that had been gaining serious momentum. Anyone familiar with the category would have called it a slam dunk launch.

But here we were, being told we’d have to find something else to pull from the shelf. Translation: if we really believed in this new product, we had to find something underperforming and remove it.

I’ll be honest: this was a while ago, so I’m not even sure what the outcome was. But I think we managed to convince them about the importance of carrying this incremental SKU. The real lesson, though, wasn’t just about this specific product. It was about the benefits of the one-in-one-out policy that so many retailers use with their suppliers.

Choices

Now, let’s get personal.

What if we applied this principle to our own lives?

Imagine your calendar is already packed, but you’re asked to take on a new project that sounds exciting. If you apply the one-in-one-out rule, you’re forced to ask: What would I have to remove to make space for this? Is it worth it?

Or, forming a new habit. For instance, when I decided to take up running, I knew certain behaviours would have to be ditched if I wanted it to work. A big one for me? Cleaning up my diet. If I kept eating like I did, the extra weight would eventually take a toll on my joints and make running uncomfortable.

Here’s another one: Let’s say you want to buy something for your home, like a new piece of furniture. But before you make the purchase, ask yourself: What will I have to give up in order to make room for this?

Practical Application: The One-In-One-Out Rule

This week, apply it to your own life. What’s one thing you can remove to make space for something new, exciting, or necessary?

Final Thoughts:

“The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give.”

– Mother Teresa

We can only fill our buckets so full. When energy starts to overflow, we stop serving our own needs. By applying a one-in-one-out policy to our personal lives, we’re essentially creating space to explore things that bring us joy and feed our energy.

So, what’s your one-in-one-out move this week?