What is a two-list strategy and how it helps you maximize your focus on priorities

The fortune of American entrepreneur Warren Buffett exceedsWarren Buffett / Bloomberg Billionaires Index 90 billion dollars. He is always included in the lists of the richest people in the world. He is also the most successful investor of the 20th century.

Obviously, Buffett is very good at managing his time. That is why the story that his employee shared with my good friend Scott Dinsmore caught my attention. It's about the three-step productivity system that Buffett uses to help subordinates decide on priorities and next steps. Or the two list strategy.

What is the strategy

Mike Flint worked as Warren Buffett's personal pilot for ten years. One day he was talking to an entrepreneur about professional priorities. And Buffett advised him to do a two-part exercise:

• Make a list of 25 career goals. (You can do the same with shorter-term goals, such as writing down 25 things to do this week.)
instagram viewer
• Choose 5 main points.

Now Flint had two lists: of the 5 items that he considered the most important, and of the 20 remaining. The pilot decided to start from the first list. Then Buffett asked him: “What about the others?” Flint replied: “I will focus on 5 main goals. The remaining 20 are in second place. They are also important, and I will work on them in between. These goals are not so urgent, but I still plan to make efforts to achieve them.” Buffett reacted to this: “No, Mike, you got it all wrong. Goals that you have not chosen in the main five are automatically included in the list of what you need to avoid at all costs. Forget about them until you have completed the top five."

How to use the two list strategy

I believe in minimalism and simplicity. And I love you very much get rid of unnecessary. I believe that tidying up is one of the most effective ways to make life easier, automate habits, and feel grateful for what we have.

Getting rid of useless things or decisions is relatively easy. It is much harder to give up what matters to us. Many tasks that slow down our progress seem important to us, although they are not at all.

Every behavior has its price. Even a neutral attitude towards something is not truly neutral. It takes away our time and energy, which can be spent on what is really important. Most of the time we move in circles instead of take action.

That is why Buffett's strategy is truly brilliant. Goals 6 through 25 are the things you care about. Therefore, it is very easy for you to convince yourself to spend time on them. However, compared to the main five goals, they are nothing more than distractions. You dedicate time to them, so you have 20 projects in progress instead of 5 completed projects.

Ruthlessly remove excess from life. Force yourself to focus on the essentials. Finish projects or cross them out to-do list. The most dangerous distractions are those we love but don't love back.