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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Do What Matters Most summary
Rob Shallenberger and Steve Shallenberger
Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time
19 mins
Brief summary
Do What Matters Most by Rob Shallenberger and Steve Shallenberger is a self-help book that teaches the principle-centered framework for prioritizing tasks and achieving meaningful goals.
Table of Contents
Do What Matters Most
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Manage your time more effectively by prioritizing what matters most.
Here’s a story from one of the authors, a former US air force pilot. He was on a routine training mission, and everything seemed just fine. He banked the plane into a 180-degree turn, and then an alert from one of the systems in the cockpit caught his attention. As he looked down to work the various switches and buttons, another jet unexpectedly crossed his flight path.
Both planes were tearing through the sky at 1000 mph. They nearly collided, missing one another by less than 100 feet.
Later, during the debrief, both pilots gave the same reason for why they didn’t notice the other jet: they were overwhelmed by activity inside their own cockpits. This is an example of what’s known as task saturation. It happens when a pilot has so much going on that he struggles to process everything the environment throws at him. This can lead to dangerous oversight, and it’s a problem in the airspace as well as in the workplace.
The key message here is: Manage your time more effectively by prioritizing what matters most.
You’re probably not a fighter pilot, but there’s a good chance that you, too, have experienced task saturation in daily life. Remember: task saturation happens when there’s a lot going on and too little time to address it all. Sixty-eight percent of managers surveyed by the authors said their number one challenge was focusing on what matters most. Eighty percent didn’t have a clear process for how to prioritize their time.
The authors’ answer was to create a simple process for managing time more effectively. It is loosely based on how the airforce works. Pilots are trained to focus on the most critical signals, known as primary instruments. They may show, for instance, airspeed or altitude. In the jet, you need to prioritize them if you want to stay alive. In your workspace you, too, can overcome task saturation by learning to prioritize.
The “do what matters most” method consists of developing three habits: writing down a personal vision, setting annual goals for both your professional and personal lives, and planning the next week in advance.
But, just like the author needed a debrief to assess his flight, you, too, need to step back before you start prioritizing – as you’ll hear in the next blink.
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What is Do What Matters Most about?
Do What Matters Most (2021) is a guide to managing your time more efficiently. It will help you boost performance and stay focused on what matters most. This pack offers a whole bag of tricks, such as developing a personal vision, setting annual goals, and following a weekly list of priorities.
Do What Matters Most Review
Do What Matters Most (2015) by Rob Shallenberger and Steve Shallenberger is a book that provides valuable insights on prioritizing tasks and staying focused. Here's why this book is worth a read:
- With its practical strategies, it helps readers identify their most important goals and teaches them how to align their actions accordingly.
- The book goes beyond just task management and emphasizes the importance of defining one's purpose and staying true to it, making it highly impactful.
- Through real-life examples and success stories, the book offers inspiration and motivation, making the journey towards productivity and fulfillment engaging and relatable.
Who should read Do What Matters Most?
- Executives and managers who want to become better leaders
- Employees and professionals who want to boost productivity
- People seeking a step-by-step process for time management
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Do What Matters Most FAQs
What is the main message of Do What Matters Most?
The main message of Do What Matters Most is to prioritize your time and energy on what truly matters in life.
How long does it take to read Do What Matters Most?
The reading time for Do What Matters Most varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Do What Matters Most a good book? Is it worth reading?
Do What Matters Most is worth reading as it provides practical insights on how to focus on what truly matters in life.
Who is the author of Do What Matters Most?
The authors of Do What Matters Most are Rob Shallenberger and Steve Shallenberger.
What to read after Do What Matters Most?
If you're wondering what to read next after Do What Matters Most, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- Mastering Communication at Work by Ethan F. Becker and Jon Wortmann
- At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof
- High-Impact Tools for Teams by Stefano Mastrogiacomo and Alexander Osterwalder
- The 3.3 Rule by John Briggs
- The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins
- Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath