Priorities and Other Factors

Part of FranklinCovey’s planning system is the ABC-123 Prioritizing. It works like this:

Look at your task list (to do list) and put them in order.

“A” tasks are things that have to get done, they have high negative consequences if they do not get done. Think to yourself, it is of high importance to get these things done today.

“B” tasks are things that are important but do not have immediate or far reaching consequences. Do these only after the A’s are done. As time passes, these may become A’s as the deadline comes closer.

“C” tasks are not very important. Hit these only after A’s and B’s are done.

The ABC’s are the values of your tasks and the 123’s are the order in which you should accomplish them.

I use this technique, especially for the values assigned to the tasks. It is so easy to do the C’s first because they are easier, or shorter or more fun or whatever so I like having in black and white what is the most important thing for me to get done.

But sometimes it is impossible for me to do my A1 first. Why? Sometimes my A1 must come after I go to work. Or sometimes I might not have enough time to complete my A1 in the time I have.

I still know it is important and I know I must tackle it as soon as I get home or the allotted time is available, and I find myself using a refining process that works for me. I am not a slave to my task list and its priorities and so I do what works best in the time I have available. Does this lessen the values I place on my tasks? No. The A’s still have the highest priority in the time slot I can accomplish them.

I found this refining process written by Merlin over at 43 Folders. It exemplifies what I have been doing and he does it eloquently:

1. Context - Where are you? What tools are available? What are the limits and possibilities unique to this moment?
2. Time available - Do you have, for example, 30 seconds, 30 minutes, or 30 hours available to you right now? What tasks could you accomplish given the time you have?
3. Energy available - Are you full of energy, is your ass dragging, or are you somewhere in between? Which of the tasks on your list could you finish, given that energy level?
4. Priority - If you had access to all the tools, opportunities, time, and energy you needed, what’s the most important or time-sensitive thing you could do right now?


Don’t be a slave to priorities. Use them in a way that enhances your life and your productivity.



Technorati : , , , ,
Del.icio.us : , , , ,
Ice Rocket : , , , ,

Leave a Comment