What Is The Tourniquet Rule In 'Pumpkin Plan'? | Under The Covers
In this brief interview segment, the host asks Mike to explain the "tourniquet rule" from Mike's book The Pumpkin Plan. Mike describes the rule as a discipline for entrepreneurs to cut off activities, opportunities, or projects that do not serve the core business—likening it to using a tourniquet on small pumpkins that would otherwise drain resources from the "big pumpkin" the entrepreneur is trying to grow. He explains that while traditional pumpkin farming focuses on quantity, the metaphorical "colossal pumpkin" approach emphasizes removing the little pumpkins quickly to prevent dilution of energy, nutrients, and focus. By applying this rule, entrepreneurs can protect and accelerate growth of their core competency, becoming maniacally focused on the primary opportunity.
