The Honesty of Priority (what to do when everything is important)

"If everything is very important, then nothing is important." - Brian Mulroney 

Key Takeaways:

• Force-rank demands/requests
• Focus on the most important
• Be honest about what can get done
• Act!!! 

What to do when demand outpaces supply? 

You have 24 hours in the day and a list of things that can't get done. 

You have a stack of bills that outpace your account balance.

Your new product is so popular you can't keep up.

Your first step is to list and rank these demands. Try your best. It doesn't have to be perfect. This isn't a time for navel-gazing. 

Someone will be disappointed.

You are going to work your list from top to bottom. The most important things need to be tackled first.

If someone is going to be disappointed, it is best to get that over with early. Delaying this conversation never makes it better or easier.

Don't dodge that phone call. Don't avoid that email. Don't skip that critical conversation.

Don't be shy to apply your limited resources to what is the most critical. You are not in the miracle business (please contact me if you are).

What happens when everything seems important?

Just remember that managing your list of priorities isn't the goal. The goal is to work down that list.

Don't be afraid to get more information about competing demands and don't be afraid to ask others for their help or opinion.

What you can't do is fail to act. You must have a bias for action. Even if you choose the wrong priority, you are still working on _a_ priority.

Honesty really is the best policy

Efforts by others to reprioritize your list will be made. Some will be authentic. Some will be underhanded.

The only way to survive is to continue to be honest. Your list has put you in the facts business. That's a great business to be in.

You ranked demands, asked for help when everything looked the same, did your best to find the most important thing to focus on, and were honest about this process from start to finish. Most importantly, you are acting on your list.

This strategy doesn't mean everyone will be happy. It simply clarifies your focus and helps make you brutally efficient. It may also help you sleep a little bit more soundly at night.

 "If everything is important, then nothing is." - Patrick M. Lencioni