Why Priorities Alone Aren’t Enough
In one of our Mastermind conversations, the topic of priorities came up. Not in the casual sense of a to-do list. But in a more structured way. We were talking about setting SMART goals, being intentional, moving beyond simply capturing what needs to be done. So full confession: I tend to rely on lists. I find comfort in having stuff written down in my “To Do List”. It’s reassuring, it gives me structure, it holds what needs to be done. And overall, it does tend to work for me, just … almost.
The Comfort of the To-Do List
Yes, there’s something really reassuring about writing things down, and for me, I’ve noticed that when I write something in my To Do list, at some point in time, I tend to get to it. But here’s where it gets interesting: that “at some point” is only about getting things done, but it is DEFINITELY not the same as moving forward intentionally. A big Ah Ha! happened for me when this realization surfaced to my awareness!
When Lists Replace Direction
So back to the conversation in the Mastermind … the intention was about setting priorities, that much was clear. People wanted to focus on what matters; make progress; be more deliberate in their actions; and all that other good intentional stuff. What kind of popped up for me though, was it looked like we weren’t really asking ourselves, “What is strategically important now?”.
When we get away from “The List” and move to doing the things that take us to “Where do I want to be”, the actions change. Ta da!
And just like that, we move from autopilot to intention.
The Subtle Gap
You’re smart – you know as well as I do that there’s a gap between knowing what matters and acting in alignment with it. People are thoughtful, they reflect, they identify their priorities. And then… they get pulled into what is urgent; easy to complete, or simply something that was already written down in the To Do List. It’s not a lack of discipline. I’m thinking that it may be a lack of structure – a different one – one that supports highlighting strategic choice.
A More Intentional Way to Work
Get rid of the To Do List and create a different one – one that trains you to follow a different question: Is this helping me move toward what I actually want?
Not just: This is what I need to get done.
Alert: This is all about a mindset shift – towards “Being On Purpose”
What “Being on Purpose” Really Means
For me, being on purpose is not about doing more, it’s about being in alignment with the direction you want to move towards; it is about connecting with what is important to you and really acknowledging why that specific thing is important; it’s about knowing why something matters before you act on it.
What this is not: it is not about working off a long list of priorities. It is the difference between reacting and choosing what deserves your attention.
A Small Shift That Changes the Way You Work
If you’re currently working from a long list of priorities, here’s a simple shift to try: don’t start with a list of activities you “need” to do, rather start with the question, “what matters the most to where I want to be in one day, one week, one month, one year?” Then choose one or two actions to do that will reflect the answer to that.
You can still keep your list. But it no longer leads. You do.
Final Thought
Lists are useful. They help us capture, organize, and remember. But they are not a strategy. And they don’t decide what matters. That part is yours.
