10x Your Output with Ruthless Prioritization
Don't try to complete your to-do list. Figure out which 5 you can do really well and follow through.
I do all kinds of lists: to-do lists, ideas lists, people to network with, etc.
The sense of accomplishment that comes from crossing an item off the list just feels so great.
The problem, though, It’s easy to get distracted by lists. In a world that glorifies production, we often tend to focus on getting as much done as we can.
But are those the things we should be doing?
Will they provide the greatest return on our most important investment - our time?
Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO) shared the biggest lesson she learned over the years:
Ruthless prioritization.
It doesn’t mean completing all 10 things on your list. It means, figuring out which 5 you can do really well, and then following through.
If you‘re prioritizing for yourself (as opposed to a team), even five things can be too many.
How come?
Because you can really only focus on one thing at a time - at least if you want to reach maximum quality. If you always start with the easiest or most convenient ideas in an effort to get everything done, you‘ll end up pushing the best ideas down the list.
And that means you‘re not going to give them the time or energy they deserve.
It can be difficult to completely let go of a good idea, but remember:
To do something great requires sacrifice.
It’s the great ideas that will make the biggest difference.
The great ideas will lead to you becoming the best version of yourself.
So, quit wasting your time on the mediocre...or even just the "good."
Instead, engage in some ruthless prioritization, and focus on the great.
My to-do lists now have 1 or 2 items per day, max.
It has changed the way I work.