4 - Today’s PRIORITIES Give Me Focus

In this chapter, Maxwell points out the second of his Daily Dozen, priorities. Maxwell says that we must have clear priorities that we can focus on daily. Maxwell uses a quote from Myers Barnes that says, “Einstein understood time management is an oxymoron. It cannot be managed.” Knowing this, we cannot manage our time, but we can manage how we use our time. Maxwell adds that “Excellence comes from doing the right things right. You’ve got to let go of the rest.”

Maxwell goes on to share with us the Pareto Principle. Simple stated, this principle says that “20% of our priorities will bring an 80% return.” This idea was game changing for Maxwell in his youth, and was an interesting concept that I had not heard about before. Maxwell the gives us three steps to help us organize our priorities:

1. Take back today (set your own schedule)

2. Ask yourself these three questions daily

3. What is required of me?

4. What gives me the greatest return?

5. What gives me the greatest reward?

6. Stay in your strength zone (Don’t be average at a lot of things, focus and get great at something.)

Maxwell then lists five daily habits that we can use to manage our priorities:

1. Evaluate priorities daily

2. Plan your time carefully

3. Follow your plan

4. Delegate wherever possible

5. Invest in the right people daily – “we spend time with problem people when we should be spending it with potential people.”

The ideas in this chapter are a new way of thinking for me, but I can see how they will have positive effects if you use them appropriately.