Every day, we are faced with competing priorities. 

Early in the life of Intertech, one of my business coaches talked about “The Tyranny of the Urgent.” Simply, the most recent issue—an incoming phone call, an customer issue, or the email notification icon—drives the day’s priorities.  While tackling these urgent issues may feel rewarding, my coach reminded me, they are usually not strategic.  Years later, I read about a management consultant named Ivy Lee and his approach to managing the day.  It was in line with my business coach.

Charles Schwab, of Bethlehem Steel, not the brokerage firm, hired Ivy Lee.  Lee promised a better way to manage.  An adamant Schwab said he needed help ”doing” not help “knowing.”  Lee shared with Schwab he had a solution.  Lee told Schwab, “Write down the five most important things you have to do tomorrow.” Lee then asked Schwab to order the items.  Finally, Lee instructed Schwab to take out this list every 15 minutes and to not work on #2 until #1 was completed.  It was good advice.  I’ve taken it a step further.

Every day, I identify One Thing.  Obviously, most days, there’s a lot more than One Thing.  But sometimes the One Thing is tough—an employee that needs to be let go, a difficult conversation I’d prefer not to have.  On these days, after I’ve completed the One Thing, I give myself permission to do something rewarding—a long lunch, a phone call with a friend.  In hindsight, the collective result of doing the One Thing is huge.  I’m not alone.

Going back to the Ivy Lee story, legend has it that Lee told Schwab something like “Pay me whatever you think it’s worth.” Schwab wrote Lee a check for $25,000, or about $1,000 a minute for his consulting.

Tom’s Takeaway
What’s Your One Thing?