You use productivity tools; they don’t use you.

That’s the problem with software. It’s the next thing to scratch your productivity hack itch. But productivity doesn’t happen in a software stack. Instead, it happens when you focus relentlessly on your priorities.

I’ve been sucked into the software rabbit hole more times than I want to admit.

But I always come back to these universal principles to make progress on my most important priorities:

Your North Star

Gary Keller preaches, “doing the most important thing is always the most important thing” in his book, The One Thing.

Sure, you’ll have a few things that are top priority and matter more than the rest, but “one will matter the most.”

It all starts with a focusing question:

“What’s the ONE Thing I can do / such that by doing it / everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

Once you have the answer, you know what’s most important.

In business, it’s the same idea.

Every company must have one BIG objective they’re pursuing.

Priorities Over Productivity

Being efficient is great.

Achieving some level of quality output is essential. But what get’s you to reach your most important goals is a focus on your core priorities.

It’s not looking at email, making a call, or responding to some high-urgency, low-importance task.

Focus on results, not checking off low-value tasks.

Daily Themes

If you’re in a role that requires multiple areas of responsibility assigning yourself daily themes is a huge help.

For example, this is how my current week is broken down:

• Monday: Priority Focus (Acquisitions, Hiring, OKRs)

• Tuesday: Marketing & Sales

• Wednesday: Leadership

• Thursday: Marketing & Sales

• Friday: Strategic & Finance

This gives you core days to plug in your top priorities.

Daily Focus Blocks

When you’re not working on your priorities, you’re not “productive.”

You’re pulled in the daily whirlwind of chasing your tail, with no real progress.

You have to schedule blocks of time on your calendar that are non-negotiable.

This is your time to focus on your top priorities.

Start with one ninety-minute block per day, but ideally, shoot for two or more.

Relentless Execution

It’s the productivity sandwich:

[North Star] Focus Blocks [Execution]

Once you have time set aside to focus, it’s all about executing. So don’t give menial tasks more time than your top priorities.

It may feel weird at first; you’re changing your habits and programming. Responding to email will always feel easier than working on a complex project. Don’t fall into this trap.

Relentlessly prioritize your priorities.