3 Magic Questions for Maximum Effectiveness Every Day
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 09:02AM
Being able to prioritize that which is most important and to eliminate or delegate that which is least important is an essential skill for entrepreneurs to possess. If you don't know how to prioritize your actions, it is easy to waste time by getting caught up "in the thick of thin things" as Stephen Covey so aptly described poor prioritizing habits in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
There myriad systems and methods out there for achieving maximum effectiveness and I have studied many of them. Some of these are very complex and require entire books to explain. At this point in my career, however, I have learned that there is power in simplicity. So, I was excited when I was able to extract and adapt the following set of questions designed to maximize your productivity from Timothy Ferriss' The 4-Hour Work Week.
- What are the two most important small projects that need to be done today?
- What will happen if I don’t do one or both of these and is either worth putting off the important to do?
- If I only accomplish these two small projects today will I be satisfied with my day?
It doesn't get much more straightforward than this. Answering these three questions at the start of every workday will ensure you know exactly what you need to get done before anything else. Then, if other things get done, it's a bonus. Whatever your two small projects are for that day make sure you tackle them first. Turn off your cell phone and close your email and work with focused effort until you get both done without compromise and you will ensure a maximally productive day every day.


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