The Productivity Habit That Changed Everything: Why I Start Every Day with Six Intentional Tasks

May 24

If you're tired of feeling busy but not making progress, this habit might change everything.

One of the simplest but most powerful productivity habits I’ve built is starting each day with a short list. Not a long to-do list that gets buried under noise, but a focused list of six things that actually matter. These aren’t random tasks. Each one is picked with care.

The Rule of Six: Why It Works

Every morning, I choose six important things I need to get done. Some of them might be small, but each one moves the needle. More importantly, I make sure to pick the hardest one first. That’s usually the one I don’t want to do—the task I’d avoid if I let comfort take the lead.

This one habit has changed how I work. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. As Greg McKeown says in *Essentialism*, success doesn’t come from being busy—it comes from being selective. And *The Tools* reminds us that what we avoid holds the key to our growth.

Why We Avoid What Matters Most

Most of us naturally drift toward easy wins. We check emails, tidy our desks, and convince ourselves we’re being productive. But deep down, we know the truth: we’re avoiding the hard stuff. The things that actually move our business or life forward.

Whether it's making that uncomfortable sales call, fixing a broken system, or finally getting serious about your marketing plan, real growth starts when you face what you’ve been putting off.

Sharpen the Axe: Intentional Time Pays Off

There’s a quote I live by: "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four sharpening the axe." That’s how I approach each day. I don’t jump in blindly. I slow down, think, and decide what truly matters. Then I go at it with focus.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about building momentum. Six tasks a day might not seem like much, but when they’re the right six, done every day, they compound fast. That’s how you make real progress.

Key Takeaways:

1. Start your day with six clear, meaningful tasks. Not a long list—just six that matter.

2. Do the hardest one first. Growth comes from doing what you’d rather avoid.

3. Be intentional. Slow down, sharpen your focus, and go after what counts.

Bonus Tip:

Want to stay consistent? Keep your list where you can see it all day. Whether that’s a sticky note, a notebook, or a simple app, visibility keeps you grounded.

Start your next day differently. Not with a sprint into busywork, but with a quiet moment of clarity. Choose your six, face the hardest one, and build a life that moves forward, one real task at a time.