I call these “generating” tasks. They are there to generate busy work.
If you find out something fits in this category, just don’t do it.
No one is going to ask.
Trust me. No one.
Save your time and leave it alone.
Seriously, let it go.
Here is an uncomfortable truth.
A lot of the time we spend on a project or at the job are things that keep the machine running.
These are tasks that are
Unfortunately, as much as we like to think that our incentives come from the top two categories in the matrix, most of our lives are stuck here.
These tasks are what the boss sees, and so, this is where most of our tasks lie when we are honest about the word “important.”
When you can, try to delegate this in chunks to the team around you or batch them in the afternoon. Much easier to put your favorite album on and crank through email and timesheets on Thursday afternoon.
If it’s consistent, then you’ll save time for the other two things by keeping people off your back.
Win/Win.
Why is important not urgent the key to growth?
These tasks have the characteristics of:
No one is going to ask you to do any of this stuff, yet, I don’t know anyone who enjoys sustained success without them.
These tasks are the reason you protect time in your calendar.
Your career and livelihood depend on them.
Also, like the important and urgent tasks, this block can get overloaded if you aren’t careful. Remember the story of the Donkey who starved to death because he couldn’t get both food and water at the same time. If he just chose one thing at a time, he could have both.
Don’t overload.
Anything that is important and urgent has the following characteristics:
Resist the temptation to put anything in this category unless you are willing to let anything and everything else fail.
Yes, the stakes are that high.
Also note: Each item in this category increases stress and decreases focus.
Ever work in an industry where people seem scattered and get heart attacks?
It’s too much of this.
Use this frame sparingly.
From the desk of Adam Thomas 