Here is an exercise: make a list of everything you do at work.
Ask yourself, “If I could only do one thing on this list, which
one task contributes the greatest value to my company?”
Once you have identified the most valuable thing you do,
ask yourself, “What is the second most valuable thing I do?
What is the third?”
In most jobs, there seem to be three critical tasks that you
perform that contribute most of the value of the work you do.
Of these three, one task will usually be more important than
the other two, and the other two are more important than any
of your other tasks. Your job is to identify these three tasks, in
order of priority, and then to work exclusively in these areas
until every task is 100 percent complete. This is the key to
excellent time management.
The easiest way to set priorities on your time and your work is
to ask the question: “What are the potential consequences of
doing or not doing this task?” An important task or activity has
significant potential consequences. An unimportant task has
low or no potential consequences.
By “potential consequences” I mean that if you perform
this task excellently, and in a timely fashion, it can have a major
impact on your career and your future. And all your tasks can
The Principle of the Mass—Concentrate Your Powers
be ranked in an order or priority from the task having the
greatest possible consequences to the task having the least
number of consequences.
Imagine that you were to be called out of town unexpectedly
for a month. Of all your current tasks, which one task
would you want to get finished before you left? This is your top
priority. This will almost invariably be the one task that has the
greatest potential consequences for successful completion.
Ask yourself, “If I could only do one thing all day long,
which one task contributes the greatest value to my company
or my income?” This is another question to help you identify
and focus on your highest priority at work.
Ask yourself, “What can I, and only I, do, that if done well,
can make a real difference to my company?” There is only one
answer to this question at any one given time. Your ability to
ask and answer this question and then to do this one thing is a
key to high levels of personal productivity and effectiveness
