Small Moments That Produce Outsized Joy: An 80/20 Way to Think About Money and Life

I enjoy asking clients what their best experiences were since I last saw them. I like highlighting these moments consciously because it helps them to spot patterns and identify future opportunities for enjoyment. Often these moments are couched inside other experiences, like a trip abroad, or visiting with a relative. It isn’t the whole trip that was a blast, usually, but a few specific, shining moments. Often, these moments are optional and easily skipped, but are inexpensive relative to the joy they produce. 

I like this exercise for many reasons. First, it’s fun to hear about a great time that they had recently, and to relive the experience with them. But more significantly, it leads them to even more moments like this over time. 

I’ll use myself as an example. I like to travel, but many of my best moments involve bird-watching. So I almost always pack my binoculars so as to take advantage when an opportunity presents itself. It’s a great combination of time outside, exploring, seeing new things, and social activity. I saw a toucan when I was in Argentina last summer. It was phenomenal. 

The same pattern showed up last fall when my sister came down from Oregon to visit me in Albuquerque. We went up to these hotsprings near Santa Fe, and the overall experience was definitely a highlight. But there was this one particular moment where the water temperature was just perfect, and there was a barely-perceptible breeze that smelled of wood-smoke. We were looking up at these yellow autumn trees all around us, and then down at the reflection of these autumn trees in the mirror-like pond next to our pool. A trickle of water ran down a nearby fountain, creating a noise of utter tranquility. I said, “wow, are you seeing this?” And she said, “it doesn’t even look real.” She was here for 2 days, but those ten minutes we experienced together are what stuck with me. 

Or again, back in Argentina, where I saw the toucan, my friends and I visited Iguazu falls. There was a boat-tour available of the falls, as well as a helicopter tour. The boat tour was $60 apiece, which felt like a lot for where we were. Easily some of the best money I’ve ever spent. I forgot how joyful I get when I’m out on the water. I was smiling, almost laughing as our boat powered up these rapids, and took us to the bottom of the falls. There was so much water in the air I could barely breathe. The day was hot and the water felt so good. Utter bliss. 

Finally, I got some good speakers and a turntable to listen to some vinyl records. Listening to 2112 by Rush, I got chills. It was incredible. The vinyl was a gift, but maybe $40 on the high end I would guess. But it gets better. I went to this thrift store to buy more records, and I found this album of Earl Scruggs’ called “Dueling Banjo.” Once again, pure delight. I felt as if my soul was being washed clean by the music. It cost $3. 

There’s a name for this pattern by which small moments, or small expenditures produce outsized results. In economics, it is known as Pareto’s Law, or “the 80/20 rule.” This pattern of thought recognizes that not all inputs are equal in terms of its ability to generate an impact. In fact, it is often the briefest moments, the smallest purchases that drive some of the most joyful, most memorable experiences. I think part of living well means discovering what those small moments look like, and then creating more of them. This is where money is really useful, not just for security and surviving, but having a life that is rich and joyful for you in particular.