1MW No. 238: Why Urgency Wins (Unless You Do This)
Length: • 3 mins
Annotated by Josh Deese
The Backward Law of Priorities - And How to Fix It
What?
The Law of Inverse Prioritization: The most important things in life are the least likely to get done.
So What?
The Law of Inverse Prioritization is dangerous because it works in silence. The most important things—your health, relationships, dreams—don’t demand your attention. They wait quietly while the urgent shouts over them.
Why does this happen?
- Urgency creates a false sense of progress: The urgent tasks feel productive because they provide immediate rewards—like checking off a to-do or replying to an email. But they rarely move the needle on what matters most.
- Busyness masks discomfort: It’s easier to stay busy than to face the challenge of making meaningful progress. The important things often require us to slow down, reflect, and make hard choices.
- Important doesn’t feel urgent: What’s essential rarely comes with a deadline. It’s easy to put it off until later—until “later” becomes never.
Now What?
Left unchecked, urgency will fill your entire day. But a small shift in focus can change everything.
- Start each morning by naming your top priority: What’s the one thing that matters most today? Write it down and commit to it.
- Block time for what matters: Schedule at least 30 minutes to work on your top priority—treat this time as non-negotiable.
- Eliminate one distraction: Remove one distraction that threatens to derail your focus.
When you prioritize the important over the urgent, you don’t just get more done—you get the right things done. And that’s the difference between a busy life and a meaningful one.
A Conversation that Matters
How to Create Lasting Change Across Generations
In this week’s episode, I sit down with Moses Kagan to uncover the secret to building a legacy that outlives us. From owning your narrative to embracing intergenerational gratitude, Moses shares how small, deliberate actions today can shape the future for generations to come.
Discover how to rethink your role as a “trim tab” in the grand story of your life and family.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
The Best of What Others Know
How to Stop Obsessing Over Small Mistakes
Do you replay every “almost perfect” moment in your head, wishing you’d done better? Jason Feifer reveals how shifting your perspective can transform your “almost perfect” moments into successes. Discover two simple mental shifts that can help you stop replaying mistakes and start moving forward with confidence. These simple tactics can help you embrace your “good enough,” and see success where you once saw failure.
Weekly Wisdom
"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less." — Socrates
Make 2025 Your Most Essential Year Yet
As we enter 2025, imagine a life designed around what truly matters. The Essentialism Planner is your guide to making that vision a reality. With simple daily practices, it helps you prioritize the essential, eliminate distractions, and stay aligned with your highest goals. Whether you're seeking more focus, less stress, or a clearer path forward, this planner is the perfect tool to start your year with intention.
Essentialism Unlocked
Go beyond the basics with the Essentialism Academy. Access in-depth courses that will help you develop systems and strategies to create a life you design.
Did someone forward this to you? Join 185,000+ others and get free weekly insights to help you design a life that really matters. Subscribe here.
Essentialism.com — McKeown, Inc – a Greg McKeown Company
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.