A Better Path: Ruthless Prioritization Done Right
In the previous article we discussed Ruthless Prioritization and asked why more people don’t engage in this practice for their own development. We talk about three flawed approaches to this practice and how they fall short. Now it’s time to get to the better way forward for the Ruthless Prioritization of your leadership and personal development.
My Approach: Personal Improvement & Success Strategy
So, what’s my preferred approach to improvement? I’ve developed something I call a Personal Improvement & Success Strategy. I’ve used this method in every area of my life, from physical health to my career, and I’ve also guided clients through this process when they’re serious about reaching their full potential. Let me walk you through the main components.
1. Purpose: Why Are You Doing This?
The first step is to identify your purpose. You need a clear sense of why you are where you are. You need to be clear on your “why.” Whether this is your broad life purpose or a more specific purpose as a leader or business owner, your purpose should be something you can say in one clear sentence. If you can’t describe it simply, keep digging and you will get there. The important thing is that your purpose should feel deeply meaningful to you. It’s the foundation for everything that comes next.
2. Focus Areas: What Hats Do You Wear?
Once you’ve clarified your purpose, the next step is to identify your focus areas. These are the specific parts of your life or work that need your attention and energy. When you ruthlessly prioritize, you’re choosing what gets your time and effort—so choose wisely.
On the personal side, focus areas might be family, health, or civic engagement. On the professional side, maybe it’s setting the vision for your company, being the face of the organization, or expanding your market share. The key here is to not bite off more than you can chew. You can develop different focus areas at different times. Pick what matters most and start there.
3. Goals: What Do You Want to Achieve?
Now, it’s time to set goals within each focus area. I recommend choosing 1–3 goals for each focus area. Having too many goals dilutes your focus, and it becomes harder to make real progress. These goals should be such that you can track your progress and know when you’ve achieved them.
One of the best frameworks for this is the SMART goal format: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. While goals can vary depending on your situation, the key is to make sure they are clear, actionable, and aligned with your purpose. Without clear goals, it’s easy to lose focus and wander off course.
4. Daily Tactics: What Will You Do Every Day?
This is where the rubber meets the road: your daily tactics. What will you do each day to move closer to your goal(s)? The truth is, this is the hardest part. It’s easy to set a big goal, but it takes real discipline and consistency to work toward it every day. There is no life hack at this point—this is where you have to ruthlessly prioritize by deliberately working each day to make progress.
At this stage, you put the puzzle of life together and play Tetris with your day. Whatever it takes to chip away and progress toward achieving your goals. This won’t always be easy or smooth, but these daily tactics should be non-negotiable, because they ensure you are making forward progress.
The Bottom Line: Consistency & Discipline
If you want to maximize your potential, you have to be consistent. You have to show up every day and put in the work, even when it’s hard or you don’t feel like it. There’s no magic pill for success—this is about putting in the effort, every single day, even when progress feels slow or non-existent. The Personal Improvement & Success Strategy isn’t a quick fix. It’s a process. But it’s a process that, when followed with discipline, will get you closer to the person you are capable of being.
So, what’s your excuse? What are you waiting for? Take the first step toward ruthlessly prioritizing your development. Develop a clear P.I.S.S. and start working to maximize your potential today.
