The TO-DON'T List.
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~ 1.5-minute read ~ Hi Reader “I think I’ve got a productivity problem. I really struggle to get things done.” That’s what a CEO I work with (let’s call him Alfie) told me during our first session. He was frustrated, drained, and looking for a better system to help him do more. I looked at him and said, “Of course you do.” I didn't say it because he was lazy. I said it because he was spending most of his time doing things he didn't enjoy, things that drained his energy, and things that didn't actually move the business forward. Alfie didn’t have a to-do list problem. He had a to-don’t list problem. Most of us have been taught the same, that progress requires more discipline and more boxes ticked. We think that if we just find a better app or a more rigid schedule, we’ll finally "arrive." But here is what I see again and again at the executive level: You already know what you should be doing. The problem isn't a lack of knowledge. It’s the weight of everything you keep doing out of habit. We built Alfie a "to-don’t" list. This wasn't a list of things he was bad at. It was a list of patterns that were quietly killing his progress. He was constantly checking email. He was sitting in meetings he didn't need to be in. He was over-preparing instead of simply making a decision. He was defaulting to what felt "safe" because it felt busy. If you want to build your own, you have to start with honesty. Notice what you do when you are avoiding something important. Spot the tasks that feel "productive" but rarely create real momentum. And then, write clear rules, not vague intentions. Don’t check email before your deep work is done. Don’t stay in a meeting once your contribution is finished. Don’t delay a people decision you’ve already made in your head. When Alfie started removing these things, not adding more, everything shifted. He had more energy. He made better decisions. The "right" work actually started getting done. The reality of your role is this: You don’t win by doing more. You win by choosing what not to do. Cheers, P.S. I recorded a video breaking down Alfie’s "To-Don't" rules and how you can spot your own progress-killers here. Next week, I’m going to go a step further. I don’t actually believe a CEO should have a traditional to-do list at all. I’ll show you what to use instead. |