The Trap Hidden in the '3:7 Golden Ratio' of Input and Output: How to Find the True Balance to Accelerate Your Growth

When you research learning methods or self-growth, this "golden ratio" is something you are almost certain to encounter.

Starting with Shion Kabasawa's masterpiece "The Output Encyclopedia," many people advocate for the importance of output.

Certainly, there is no doubt that output is essential for cementing the knowledge you have learned and turning it into usable skills.

I myself have had the experience of becoming unable to move forward because I was too conscious of this "golden ratio."

And the conclusion I reached after trial and error is,"There is no absolute golden ratio for output and input..It should be changed dynamically depending on your growth phase." that is.

This time, I will talk about how to escape this "trap of the golden ratio" and find the balance to maximize your own growth, while sharing my own real-life experiences.

Why shouldn't you be bound by the "3:7 golden ratio"?

In the first place, the "3:7 input-to-output" ratio might be an ideal daily routine balance for people who have accumulated a certain amount of knowledge and experience and are engaged in stable activities.

For example,

• When you have just started learning a new field:
  If you panic and think, 'I have to output 70%...' without having enough input, you may only produce shallow content and lose your confidence.
  

• When you want to focus on mastering a specific skill: There is a risk that you might cut into the time truly needed for input just to secure time for output.

In other words, the general 'golden ratio' can even become a 'curse' that hinders your growth during the initial stages of development or in phases where you are trying to specialize and break through.

What is important is not to be bound by numbers, but to find the optimal balance for your 'now'.

The 'Extreme Allocation' Strategy I Practice [Personal Experience]

So, how do you specifically find that balance?

In my case, rather than maintaining a half-hearted balance like '3:7', I use an 'extreme allocation' strategy where I shift the ratio drastically depending on the phase.

Phase 1: Full-Throttle Output Period (10 Output : Almost 0 Input)

In the latter half of 2024, I was releasing Udemy courses almost every month.

Some courses had over 70 lectures, with total playback times reaching up to 9.5 hours.

I felt that even taking time to read a new book was a waste; I was completely focused on mobilizing all the knowledge and experience I had input in the past and pouring it out in the form of content.

Of course, if you continue this state forever, you will eventually run dry.

And that sign arrived suddenly.

Phase 2: Full-Throttle Input Period (9 Input : 1 Output)

When the rush of creating Udemy courses settled down and I tried to post on X (formerly Twitter) next, my mind went blank, and I fell into a state where I couldn't think of anything.

This is precisely the 'sign of complete input deficiency'.

At this point, I 'stopped my running hands' and consciously switched to an input phase.

I bought every book and learning material that caught my interest and focused solely on absorbing knowledge.

Output at this stage consists of simple notes on what you have learned or brief tweets.

In this way, for me, intentionally creating periods dedicated entirely to output and periods dedicated entirely to input has resulted in higher productivity and a greater sense of growth.

3 Tips for Finding the Optimal Balance for Your 'Now'

So, how can you find the optimal balance that is right for you?

I will share three tips that I keep in mind.

Tip 1: Objectively view your 'growth phase'

First, it is important to grasp which phase you are currently in.

Start by focusing on high-quality input to solidify your knowledge base.

Summaries or notes of what you have learned are sufficient for output.

My Udemy production period falls into this category.

By repeating practice without fear of failure, your experience will increase explosively.

At the same time, you will also input information from new fields, such as adjacent areas, to deepen your unique value.

Perhaps it is only at this stage that balances like '4:6' or '5:5' begin to have meaning.

Hint 2: Use 'running out of ideas' or 'feeling stagnant' as a sign

The timing to switch phases is something your intuition will tell you.

'I can't think of any ideas even when I try to output...' As I have experienced, this is a clear sign of insufficient input.

Instead of following someone else's numbers, trust the signs you hear from within yourself and adjust your balance flexibly.

Hint 3: Narrow your input down to your 'area of expertise'

Especially if you are in a growth phase where you want to increase your expertise, you need to be careful about the information you take in.

If you try to do 'this and that,' you will become overloaded with information and end up in a state of 'information confusion,' losing sight of what you should actually be doing.

Of course, a broad education is important, but during periods when you want to accelerate your growth, I recommend consciously narrowing your focus to 'input that is directly linked to your current activities.'

I also prioritize input that enhances my own area of expertise above all else right now.

Summary

There is no universal, absolute 'golden ratio' for input and output that applies to everyone.

It is the same as how the equipment and pace you need change depending on which mountain you are climbing and how high you are.

It is okay to have a period where you focus entirely on output.

It is okay to have a period where you immerse yourself in input.

Please, free yourself from the spell of numbers, find your own 'golden ratio,' and maximize your learning effectiveness and growth speed.

If you are interested in a self-centered blog, please check it out below!

I have launched my new blog! I am putting in a lot of content that leads to learning, so please use it as a reference!