Three things I (try to) live by

- if something takes less than 5 minutes, do it now and forget about it. 

- if something is not a definite yes, it’s a no. (ty @naval)

- Extend slight bias into now during a now or never situation.

I used to do the first one but I ended up doing a ton of 2nd and 3rd order things.  

I’ve replaced this with the Peter Drucker classic -> “do first things first and second things not at all”. 
If sub 5 minute tasks bubble up to first things, they get done now.

Independent Power Networks @ Aston // astonlabs.co.

I should carve out some time for those 5 minute tasks, because they do pile up.  Then they would become 1s at least once a day. 

To me, determining the 1s is the hardest part.  I have a basic hierarchy, but I mostly refine the 1s with others.  

For me the hierarchy is: 
Issues with my family. 
Then for work, issues with strategy, then customers, then supporting the team on their blockers.  

My first meeting of the day is usually coffee with @megannrobinson. 2nd with myself to take stock of what happened yesterday and be sure strategy is still sound. If strategy needs help, that’s my only “1”.  3rd meeting every day is with our COO to refine the 1s.  Then I have to ruthlessly stay on “do not disturb” until the 1s are done.

interesting

I tend to knock all 5 min tasks out of the way because they bubble up when I’m in deep focus if I haven’t completed them.

Curious how you have defined between 1st, 2nd, 3rd order things.