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<span class="provip_member_name">Richard Whitaker</span>
Richard Whitaker
Chief Executive Officer
Federal Way, Washington
Articles » Organization & time management »
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Keys to Prioritizing

One key to success is being able to sort the vital few from the trivial many. Here are some ideas on prioritizing.
Written Aug 29, 2008, read 9225 times since then.
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Prioritizing goals can be confusing if you think in terms of "which is more important?" The reason is that all of your goals will be important at one time or another, or they wouldn't be goals. So asking which is more important is like asking whether it's more important to breathe or eat-at this moment, breathing is more important. But eventually, all the air in the world won't matter if you don't get some food.  Therefore abandon the idea of prioritizing by "importance." Instead,  think in terms of timing- "which will I focus on more right now?"

One of the problems that occurs when you don't prioritize is that you can easily be distracted by the tyranny of the urgent.  Urgent activities are everywhere and if we haven't prioritized, it is easy to allow ourselves to divert our attention to them.  When we do that, we lose our focus on what is really important to our success.

Think about the last time you took a vacation (if you can remember back that far).  Think about how much you got done the one or two days before you left.  You were probably very productive.  One of the reasons is that you were focused on your priorities.  You didn't get sidetracked by things that weren't important.

However sometimes, even when one goal is clearly more important than another, timing will sometimes dictate that the less important goal take precedence at this time. For example, just because health and family might be one person's most important priorities in life, that doesn't mean that working late might not occasionally be the most intelligent use of an evening, even if it precludes being home for dinner or going to the gym. This is especially true when you are under a deadline for having a project completed. 

Assuming that all the Goals you've created or adopted are essentially of equal importance, over the long run at least. Don't worry if one goal is truly more important. The point is not to prioritize the goal, but to prioritize what you're going to do right now.  What you are doing right now is what is going to eventually move you toward the completion of the goal or project.  

On any given day, or week, you can choose to focus on some goals more than others. The goal that receives the most attention can and probably will change frequently. This flexible approach is very workable if you don't set too many goals or tasks to come due at the same time.

Someone might ask which goal is more important:

      "To strengthen my relationship with my spouse"

      or

      "To earn a promotion at work"

Both of these may be very important, but clearly, one may need more attention at any given time. This flexibility allows you to have fun and set many diverse goals (travel, savings, relationships, and health, for instance), keep track of them, focusing on certain ones now, and shifting focus to others as needed-without having to make an artificial decision about their order of importance. You can even set a very long range goal with a start date that doesn't even begin for several years, but at least it will be there to look at whenever you are reviewing your goals and thinking about the future.

The important thing is to have goals that are important to you.  These need to be your goals, not someone elses.  Psychologists tell us "that we move towards our most predominate thought".  In other words, you are what you think. Since that is the case, focus on what you want to be, do or achieve and not on where you are right now-except to learn from it.

Chief Executive Officer Federal Way, Washington Richard Whitaker

Rich Whitaker is the founder of The Advisers Network, a firm that focuses on helping people market their businesses more effectively to other busnesses. He is also a sales trainer and consultant, helping people improve their sales effectiveness.

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Comment on this article

  • Social Media Marketing Consultant, Trainer & Manager Seattle, Washington Leif Hansen
    Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Sep 01, 2008

    "all of your goals will be important at one time or another, or they wouldn't be goals!...Therefore abandon the idea of prioritizing by 'importance.' Instead, think in terms of timing- 'which will I focus on more right now?' "

    Wow. As simple as this concept is, it is really revolutionary and has until now escaped my ability to express as a problem - thank you Richard.

    I use tons and tons of goal-setting tools, GTD systems, to-do lists, etc. Almost all of them have the 'priority' setting feature, but I return to those priorities with "what was I thinking!"
    What I've found most helpful with my todo lists, which is in line with your "what is important now", is to break projects into steps that I can manually reorder. What is the FIRST step, or the most important step, AT THIS TIME.

    (Recently, I'm a fan of the application 'Things' and am thrilled that it now has a sync-able iPhone companion)

    I like it!

    Get attention. Keep them engaged. Make an Impact.
  • Chief Executive Officer Federal Way, Washington Richard Whitaker
    Posted by Richard Whitaker, Federal Way, Washington | Sep 02, 2008

    Thank you Leif. I learned this lesson the hard way, especially when my priorities kept changing.

    The Advisors Network
  • Life, Prosperity, and Small Business Coach. Author. Speaker. Trainer. Singer/Songwriter. Seattle, Washington Kate Phillips
    Posted by Kate Phillips, Seattle, Washington | Sep 02, 2008

    I love your example of eating and breathing... both are essential, but eating may not be "urgent." I have also pondered many times the "tyranny of the urgent." It seems to shift our goals around artificially in our priority list.

    Kate

    Stop the Money Drama.
  • jewelry designer, manufacturer, artist Seattle, Washington Sally Brock
    Posted by Sally Brock, Seattle, Washington | Sep 04, 2008

    Great to see everything laid out so clearly, I tend to work exclusively on what is on fire at the moment. But I've got grand hopes of future organization.

    Thank you.

  • Management coach and writer Bainbridge Island, Washington Michael Lisagor
    Posted by Michael Lisagor, Bainbridge Island, Washington | Sep 06, 2008

    Excellent article. I would add that one reason many of my clients have such a difficult time prioritizing is their inability or unwillingness to say no. This can be for a variety of reasons. Yet, the very act of saying no to one thing often opens up immense untapped opportunity, concentrates investment (human and financial resources) where it will have the most positive impact, and reduces stress. A simple decision making process (a matrix with several key criteria) can really help take some of the emotions out of this scenario and help identify those activities, actions and investments that should be a priority for the enterprise. Thanks for sharing! Mike

  • Vedic astrologer Seattle, Washington Kathleen Whalen MS AOM
    Posted by Kathleen Whalen MS AOM, Seattle, Washington | Dec 27, 2010

    I love how it really all comes down to Present moment.
    "Which is more important", Right now? Always a great reminder.
    Then as I finish the action completely, it feels like a Japanese Tea ceremony.

    Very Eckart Tolle, Be Here Now actually.

    This is a lovely way to bridge goals and future planning while remaining present. All our actions occur in the present, afterall.

    The more aware I am to each actions link to getting the big task done, the more I get in the flow. If I separate them completely, then I sometimes loose focus and the task takes longer to complete. For me, keeping the end game in the corner of my mind helps with the task completion. I love ticking off those boxes and circles on my list.

    Richard's comment on the 'right now' is what moves the entire thing forward.

    Oddly enough, the more present I am, the more efficient I become, and the more tasks I complete.

    "We move toward our most predominant thought" in present moment.

    "You are what you think". Buddha and Richard W. :)

    Very nice. Thank you Richard

    Best timing, Joyful living
  • Clinical Hypnotherapist Tarzana, California Susan French
    Posted by Susan French, Tarzana, California | Jan 30, 2011

    Hi Rich,

    I love your phrase "the tyranny of the urgent." I'm hoping you won't mind if I use it from time to time. I promise I'll give you credit.

    Susan

  • Chief Executive Officer Federal Way, Washington Richard Whitaker
    Posted by Richard Whitaker, Federal Way, Washington | Jan 30, 2011

    To Nil, Please do not use articles to promote your products. It is against Biznik policy and reflects badly on you

    Rich

    The Advisors Network
  • Chief Executive Officer Federal Way, Washington Richard Whitaker
    Posted by Richard Whitaker, Federal Way, Washington | Jan 30, 2011

    Susan, Certainly, you may quote me. I would be honored.

    Rich

    The Advisors Network
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    Posted by Benny Hudak, Iligan, Lanao Del Norte Philippines | Feb 04, 2011

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    If you want an aesthetically pleasing array of chairs, if that's important to you and you keep that goal on your horizon, the time will come.

    For now, get off the boat. Or help others off the boat.

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