The Things That Really Matter in Business in New Zealand Right Now – #3 Prioritisation

Yes I know, I’m two days late!  I do have an excuse, but in the end excuses don’t matter.  I promised that every two weeks I would send a blog on The Things That Really Matter in Business in NZ Right Now – and this one is 2 weeks and 2 days since my last one.  Not bad but not what was promised.  And my excuse, even though it doesn’t matter, I wasn’t clear on my priorities.  
So number 3 – remember we have covered off the top two – Cashflow and Leadership.  Lets dive in – brief, to the point, blunt at times, but based on science, experience and a dash of wisdom:

  • Multitasking is a myth.  We can only truly focus on one thing at a time.  Even the fairer gender (a bit of political correctness there – sorry).  Don’t fool yourselves.  We can ONLY TRULY FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME! Apologies for shouting
  • So we better make sure we are focusing on the right things
  • If you have a To Do List that is 15 items long you are missing the point.  If you have 10 “A” Priorities you are missing the point.  If your priorities change hourly you are missing the point
  • Take a leaf from the richest man in human history – John D Rockefeller – he of Standard Oil fame.  The Book “Titan” is a wonderful biography by the way – a great read.  Getting back to John D.  Every day at his offices in Manhattan he had lunch with his Leadership Team.  At that lunch he wanted to know three things – the so called Rockefeller Habits – Data, Priorities and Rhythm.  What are your numbers, what are your Top Three Priorities and what is your Top One of Three, and how is progress i.e. what are the Roadblocks to that Top One?
  • Don’t have a list of 10 top priorities, Have just three and know what is number one.  Then work on that until it is finished or you can do no more.  Then go to number two.  Sh*t does happen, but be sure you justify why that sh*t is more important than number One before you divert your focus.  Once you have dealt with the sh*t get back to number One
  • So how do we choose a top 3 and top one of three?  Another Yank is important here – Dwight D. Eisenhower – who brought us the Eisenhower Matrix:
  • The Importance vs. Urgent Matrix.  It is often misunderstood though.  To use it you must have absolute clarity on your criteria of “Importance” and “Urgency.”  For you, in your position, at your business, what does important look like?  Also, “Do” means fit it into your priorities – is it Top three, is it Top one
  • A Not To Do List is just as important as your Top Three and Top One of Three.  What are those things that you will not do?  Decide which of the three boxes they come under within the matrix and deal with them
Prioritisation is one of the things that really matter because it will ensure you do the right things, right.  We all have Time Management issues so we better spend that time wisely.  Oh, and by the way, Multitasking is a Myth!!

Go well, be focused and smell the flowers.
Cheers

Phil Pickford