THE HIDDEN POWER OF 10%

The Lesson I Didn’t Know I Needed: 10% Tuesday (A Father’s Day Tribute)

My dad didn’t give long lectures.
He didn’t need to.
He’d drop a line—something half casual, half brilliant—and somehow it would wedge itself into my brain and wait for the right moment.

One of those lines was this:

“10% Tuesday.”

That’s it. No long story. Just a simple idea:
Take 10% of your time—just one day a week—and focus it on what really matters long-term.

For him, it was finances.
Not flashy investing or wild ideas. Just basic, solid stewardship.
Look after your financials.
Tidy the books.
Review the numbers.
Put a little aside.
Don’t wait for a crisis.

Where It Hit Me

I was in the thick of it.
Single mom mode.
Two teenagers (neither with a driver’s license yet).
My son was playing elite-level soccer—which meant hauling gear and driving to every field across the Lower Mainland.
My daughter was in her final year of high school.
And I was running two businesses and trying to prioritize being a present, available, emotionally attuned mom.

Time? What time?

But that phrase—10% Tuesday—stuck.

And one day I just… did it.
I carved out a slice of time on a Tuesday.
Not to catch up. Not to chase the to-do list.
But to focus on what would make things better down the line.

I started with money.
I reviewed the books for both businesses.
Set up a real emergency fund.
Opened a second bank account.
Started paying attention to the flow instead of reacting to the mess.

It didn’t take long. But it changed everything.

The Hidden Power of 10%

Here’s what I didn’t expect:
The more I leaned into organizing my finances, the more empowered I felt.

I started compartmentalizing.
Not just saving for “someday” or retirement—but organizing for real life.
A travel fund.
A Christmas fund.
A medical fund. (Because as an entrepreneur with no health insurance, this one was huge.)

I began setting aside money for the things that actually mattered—health, experiences, fun with my kids.
Not what I should care about. What I actually valued.

Money, but Make it Strategy

Here’s the part I still love:

It became a game.

I knew what the hydro bill was.
I knew how much we spent on food, and what we had left over for fun.
I could plan. I could prioritize. I could breathe.

That moment of “OMG we’re tight!”
Shifted to:
“OMG—we can plan a holiday.”

Same numbers.
Different lens.
And that’s the power of strategic thinking.

A Father’s Day Nudge (From My Dad to You)

We don’t always realize when we’re being handed gold.

Sometimes it sounds like a throwaway line.
Sometimes it’s said in passing, over coffee, or in the middle of a hundred other things.

But the best advice sticks.

So this Father’s Day, here’s a nudge—from my dad, through me, to you:

Pick your own 10% Tuesday.
It doesn’t have to be financials.
It could be your health, your relationships, your vision, your energy.

But take the time—once a week—to focus on what actually matters.

Not what’s urgent.
Not what’s loud.
What’s true.Because that 10%?
That’s where the real shift starts.

If you are looking for help shuffling your next moves – whether financial or not – lets chat! Deb 778-558-8605 Having a ThinkPartner in your corner as a sounding board can be valuable (Not as valuable as Dad but close)!