For those that know me, you know, I love a good checklist. I have checklists, for checklists. A routine for the morning, a routine for sales call follow-ups, a routine for the close of the day — check, check, check.

Still I was not getting some key things done.  So doing what I always do, I stopped and asked WHY.

In my flurry of self-congratulating check, check, check, I realized that I was doing the simple things first vs the most important things. By choosing the simple things sure the list gets shorter and “look at me go, I am amazing” yet some days, the only real thing I needed to get done was left unchecked, and getting pushed to the next day.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou

Ok, ok, now I understand. I know better. It’s not the number of checks, it’s prioritizing, the important things getting checked off. Duh!

To create a new habit, for the last two months, nearly every day, from 8:30 to 9am, I have done the “Most Important Thing of the Day”. Here’s a sampling:

• Finish the contract revision
• Make a welcome home card
• Enter new sales leads in CRM
• Organize incorporation documents
• Create a grocery list for the birthday party
• Call (insert important person’s name here) about (insert important task here)

The point is not the task itself. What’s critical is the focus – think, decide and act on one single item to create your best life every dang day. Eliminate everything that you spend your time on during the 30 “most important thing” minutes – until “most important thing” is complete.

Each night before I go to bed, I think about and write down the most important thing I need to complete the next morning.

My checklist is one item. I prioritize success – and I focus each morning when I am most sharp on doing the most important thing well, and first.

It has been a real game-changer. I feel more accomplished during the day because something, that was probably nagging me is done.

So I challenge you to try this hack. Prioritize.

Wishing you a day of one important check, followed of course by check, check, check. What was my most important thing today? This blog post. Check. xo

Be Your Own JoyMaster.