Quotes About Prioritization

Before spending time on a stress-inducing question or problem, consider this: If you can't define it or act upon it, forget it.

This is very similar to Derek Sivers's (page 184) "Don't be a donkey" rule. In a world of distraction, single-tasking is a superpower.

This doesn't mean you want to spend your time doing it. If you spend your time, worth $20–25 per hour, doing something that someone else will do for $10 per hour, it's simply a poor use of resources. It is important to take baby steps toward paying others to do work for you.

THE KEY TO having more time is doing less, and there are two paths to getting there, both of which should be used together: (1) Define a to-do list and (2) define a not-to

What might you do to accomplish your 10-year goals in the next 6 months, if you had a gun against your head?

He just keeps looking left to the hay, and right to the water, trying to decide. Hay or water, hay or water? He's unable to decide, so he eventually falls over and dies of both hunger and thirst. A donkey can't think of the future.

Effectiveness is doing the things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task (whether important or not) in the most economical manner possible. Being efficient without regard to effectiveness is the default mode of the universe.

Because I'm in control of my time. I'm on top of it. 'Busy,' to me, seems to imply 'out of control.' Like, 'Oh my God, I'm so busy. I don't have any time for this shit!' To me, that sounds like a person who's got no control over their life.

Which 20% of sources are causing 80% of my problems and unhappiness? 2. Which 20% of sources are resulting in 80% of my desired outcomes and happiness?

The World Doesn't Need Your Explanation. On Saying "No":

Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.

1) Define a to-do list and (2) define a not-to-do list. In general terms, there are but two questions:

What 20% of sources are causing 80% of my problems and unhappiness? What 20% of sources are resulting in 80% of my desired outcome and happiness?

Every time people contact me, they say, 'Look, I know you must be incredibly busy . . .' and I always think, 'No, I'm not.' Because I'm in control of my time. I'm on top of it. 'Busy,' to me, seems to imply 'out of control.' Like, 'Oh my God, I'm so busy. I don't have any time for this shit!' To me, that sounds like a person who's got no control over their life.

NR: To prevent work for work's sake, and to do the minimum necessary for maximum effect ("minimum effective load").

all information and interruptions that are irrelevant, unimportant, or unactionable.

Nuestro objetivo no es crear un negocio lo más grande posible, sino un negocio que nos moleste lo menos posible.

What are the top-three activities that I use to fill time to feel as though I've been productive?

It's okay to have a desire. But pick a big one and pick it carefully. Drop the small ones.

Who are the 20% of people who produce 80% of your enjoyment and propel you forward, and which 20% cause 80% of your depression, anger, and second-guessing?

Being busy is not the same as being productive. In fact, being busy is a form of laziness -- lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.

Either you're in, or you're in the way." Often, we chase after people who aren't "in," who, for whatever reason, don't fit into our lives or our business. We waste time with these people when our focus should be on the people who are in.

Not-to-do lists are often more effective than to-do lists for upgrading performance. The reason is simple. What you don't do determines what you can do.

If you can't define or act upon it, forget it.