The Salmon Saga: Viking Hacks 2
Second round of productivity tools, written to inspire people who wants to prioritise. A deeper dive into the Eisenhower Matrix.
Time to Read: 5 min
Hello, friend!
I am excited to introduce the next round of Viking Hacks. If you missed the first round, then please have a look at the Viking Hacks from last week.
Today we will focus on how to prioritise tasks, but first, I have decided that every Viking Hacks letter will from now on only contain one tool. Why?
First, I don’t want tools to fall in the shadow of other tools. This is more probable when I present three tools, rather than one. Second, it requires a lot of attention to familiarize yourself with three new tools every week. Lastly, I can go more in depth on each tool, so it becomes easier for you to use. This is very important for the value that I am providing and also the reason why I started this: to assist others.
Before I give you todays tool, let me say this:
Don’t expect tools to work after one day. It requires consistent focus and conscious effort in the long term to make change happen. Therefore, be patient in the process and experiment as much as possible.
Viking Hacks II
TIME TO PRIORITISE
When I try new things, I believe it is important to have a clear intention.
E.g. I use this technique before I read books. I ask myself for what reason I am reading this book. When I clarify the intention I feel committed, which drives greater learning and improved results. Keep in mind that a clear intention is important now as well.
Today’s tool is created by Dwight Eisenhower. This matrix is a decision framework to manage our own priorities and expectations. The goal with this matrix is to give all tasks a value and make sure they align with our goals.
Now you should set a clear goal in mind. Is there something specific that you are currently working on that is important to you? If you don’t have a reference point it becomes very difficult to prioritise. Let’s look at the matrix:
Urgent + Important = Do. Set aside time now and start executing.
Not Urgent + Important = Decide. Plan tasks into your schedule. They don’t have to be done now but remember to pay specific attention to deadlines.
Urgent + Not Important = Delegate. Find someone else who is better than you and ask them if they are available to do it instead.
Not Urgent + Not Important = Eliminate. Leave it and never look back, at least for now. This will not provide you with any value or energy.
Now, pick 10 tasks that you want to do this week, big or small, personal or professional. Write them down and make sure they equal 10 in total. Be as specific as possible and make sure you understand what each task entails.
Then you draw out the matrix above on a piece of paper and you start plotting those 10 tasks onto the matrix. Remind yourself of your end-goal when you do this. In the end you should have a matrix with dots, which symbolises unique tasks.
Let me give you a personal example:
Lets say that my goal is to have a fully functional donation page for my fundraising project, where people can already donate, by the 30th of May:
Until the 30th of May my tasks would then be somewhat like this:
1. Choosing a platform > URGENT + IMPORTANT
2. Finding a sponsor > URGENT + IMPORTANT
3. Creating incentives for donors > URGENT + IMPORTANT
4. Planning content for social media > URGENT + NOT IMPORTANT
5. Email to friends and family > URGENT + NOT IMPORTANT
6. Essay for a university class > NOT URGENT + IMPORTANT
7. Working out five times a week > NOT URGENT + IMPORTANT
8. Going for a drink with Paul > NOT URGENT + IMPORTANT
9. Planning my travel back to Norway > NOT URGENT + NOT IMPORTANT
10. French course on Duolingo > NOT URGENT + NOT IMPORTANT
I prefer to plot all my plans and needs into the matrix, whether it is professional or personal. This provides a more holisitc and realistic view of my schedule.
ONE TIP: learn to say NO to tasks (to yourself and others) that are not urgent and not aligned with your goals. This is usually the biggest mistake we make. We take on too many things that don’t provide any value.
Where you plot your 10 tasks really depends on what your goals are and what is important to you in your life. This will be different for each person and I encourage you to start prioritising according to what you think matters and not always what people expect from you. In the end it is all about trying to feel productive, not trying to execute on every task you see flying by.
Thats the hacks for this week. Give it a shot and if you are also looking for something to read on productivity, please have a look at this week’s book recommendation:
As I mentioned, a new round of Viking Hacks is sent out every Monday. The content is based on practical steps that helps you become more productive, starting today.
The next round of Viking Hacks will come out Monday 25th of May.
If you have any tips you want to share, send me an email using marco.ab.hjorth@gmail.com or comment in the section below. I am sure people would like to know what you know! My goal is to create a community where we share experiences with one another and learn to live a better life.
I hope this week will be productive for you and I wish you the best of luck. See you next week!
Effective salmon are not problem minded; they’re opportunity-minded. They seek opportunities and starve problems. They think preventively.
Yours,
Marco h.