The Choice of Either/Or

Right now, I can think of 25 or 30 things I COULD be doing. Every one of those 25 or 30 things would likely be of some value to our business. Some would add a little value, some would add a lot of value. But only ONE of them, would add the MOST value. Only ONE of them is MOST important, the TOP priority. Here's a truth that's hard for most of us to get our arms around, and even harder to act on:

If two things are most important, neither one really is.

The most productive people decide every morning what their top priority is for the day. They say to themselves: "If I don't get anything else accomplished today, I am absolutely, positively going to get (X) done." And in most cases, (X) is a result, not an activity. Peter Drucker suggests this question:

"What can I and no one else do, which if done really well, would make a real difference to this company?"

That's a good question for anyone who regularly picks up a paycheck, but it is a profound question for leaders. Every moment brings the choice of either/or. How we choose defines our companies and our lives.