Most stress comes from not taking action
In a July 2025 talk on extreme focus, Richard paired two ideas. One came from his mentor Eben Pagan: clarity multiplies action. The other he credits to Jeff Bezos, about where stress comes from.
The Bezos idea
As Richard tells it, Bezos says about 90 percent of stress comes from knowing a situation needs to be addressed and not having acted on it yet. Once you start acting, the problem becomes a project, and much of the stress goes away.
Clarity first
Richard ties this to Eben Pagan's line that clarity multiplies action. If you are not acting, you may not be clear on what to do. Get clear, and action follows.
Use it daily
Richard says it is one of the most important things he has learned. He applies it to the worksheet from that session: know the single best use of your energy, then act on it.
In Richard's words
"And Bezos says that 90% of stress is knowing that there's a situation that needs to be addressed and you have not taken action on it yet." (Richard C. Wilson, Family Office Club talk, July 2025)
"And once you turn a problem into a project because you're taking action on it, then a lot of the stress goes away." (Family Office Club talk, July 2025)
How to use this
- List the problems you know about but have not started on.
- Take one small first step on each, so it becomes a project.
- When stuck, get clearer on the goal before pushing harder.
- Name your single best use of energy each day.
Questions and answers
What does Bezos say about stress?
Richard says Bezos attributes about 90 percent of stress to knowing a problem needs action and not acting yet.
How do you reduce that stress?
Start acting, so the problem becomes a project, per Richard.
What does clarity multiplies action mean?
An Eben Pagan line Richard uses: when you are clear on what to do, you act more.
Where did Richard share this?
In a July 2025 Family Office Club talk on extreme focus.