#effectiveness #executive #priority [[Focus over diversification]] [[The Power Law -- The Steep Distribution of Value]] Ask what *has to be* done instead of what do you want to do Set priorities and stick to them > I have never encountered an executive who remains effective while tackling more than two tasks at a time. Reset priorities after completing the original top-priority task — “What must be done *now*?” Parent:: [[Steps to become an effective executive]] The biggest tragedy of life -- not being able to focus on things that matter -- [[Clear Thinking -- Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results]] --- If there is any one secret of effectiveness, it is concentration. Effective executives do **first things first** and do **one thing at a time**. Concentration = the courage to impose on time and events one's own decisions as to what really matters = the executive's only hope for becoming the master of time and events instead of the whipping boy. The need to concentrate is grounded both in - the nature of the executive job - [[Time is the ultimate limiting factor]] & there is always time deficit - [[Effective work requires large large chunks of time]] - the nature of man - [[Human strengths need to be concentrated for any achievement]] Extra benefit: [[Focusing on one at a time actually gets more things done]] ## How - [[Concentration requires sloughing off the past]] - [[Concentration requires setting posteriorities]] - [[Courage & opportunity over judgement]]