A simple system for a crowded day: three things, in order, one at a time.
Plus we have our own busy lives to worry about: that pile of work, the child who might be coming down with a cold, the house project that has to be finished. How do we make sense of it all?
George Raveling, the legendary basketball coach whose life is full of inspiration and wisdom, has an answer. George was overwhelmed by self-doubt when he was asked to run the second-largest division of Nike, one of the biggest and most iconic companies in the world. He had no corporate experience and wasn't sure how he'd manage everything in front of him. Then a mentor gave him a simple system.
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When you leave the office every day, leave a yellow pad in the middle of the desk. When you come in the morning, write down the three most important things you've got to get done that day, in that order. That day, do not do anything else but the first thing on the pad. If you get the first one done, then you go to the second one.
ADVICE GIVEN TO GEORGE RAVELING
That will put structure to your day, and it will give you a sense of purpose.
TRY THIS TODAY
Tonight, write down tomorrow's three most important tasks, in order. Tomorrow, don't touch the second until the first is done.
Much of what I've learned about Stoicism comes from Ryan Holiday. Find more of his writing at dailystoic.com and ryanholiday.net.
While I have edited much of this content, there are some cases where I have taken Ryan Holiday's words directly. I've included them because I think they are powerful and will be helpful for you. They are also helpful for me, and I've put them here so I can learn and understand more myself.
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