'Warren Buffett' is consistently ranked among the wealthiest people in the world. Out of all the investors in the 20th century, Buffett was the most successful. Given his success, it stands to reason that Buffett has an excellent understanding of how to spend his time each day. From a monetary perspective, you could say that he manages his time better than anyone else. And that’s why the article below, which was shared directly from Buffett’s journey, caught my attention.

Let’s talk about the simple 3-step productivity strategy that Warren Buffett uses to help his employees determine their priorities and actions ~ 

The Story of Mike Flint ~ 

Mike Flint was Buffett’s airplane pilot for 10 years. (Flint has also flown four US Presidents, so I think we can safely say he is good at his job.) According to Flint, he was talking about his career priorities with Buffett when his boss asked the pilot to go through a 3-step exercise.

Here’s how it works ( See Below as illustrated carefully)   

STEP 1: Buffett started by asking Flint to write down his top 25 career goals. So, Flint took some time and wrote them down. (Note: you could also complete this exercise with goals for a shorter timeline. For example, write down the top 25 things you want to accomplish this week.)

STEP 2: Then, Buffett asked Flint to review his list and circle his top 5 goals. Again, Flint took some time, made his way through the list, and eventually decided on his 5 most important goals. Goals are the ones that drive us forward in life and help us achieve our desired results. They motivate us to do more. In today’s rapidly evolving world, where technology continually reshapes how we work and communicate, the importance of setting clear goals is more pronounced than ever. 

STEP 3: At this point, Flint had two lists. The 5 items he had circled were List A and the 20 items he had not circled were List B.

Segregation of Goals based on Priority ~ Flint confirmed that he would start working on his top 5 goals right away. And that’s when Buffett asked him about the second list, “And what about the ones you didn’t circle?” Flint replied, “Well, the top 5 are my primary focus, but the other 20 come in a close second. They are still important so I’ll work on those intermittently as I see fit. They are not as urgent, but I still plan to give them a dedicated effort.” To which Buffett replied, “No. You’ve got it wrong, Mike. Everything you didn’t circle just became your Avoid-At-All-Cost list. No matter what, these things get no attention from you until you’ve succeeded with your top 5.”

The Power of Elimination ~ 


( Source Of The Image ~ Google Images) 

I think simplicity and minimalism go hand in hand with these stages. It's critical to dispose of rubbish. One of the best ways to simplify life, increase the automatic nature of positive habits and cultivate gratitude for what you already have, in my opinion, is to get rid of the unnecessary. Having said that, eliminating needless choices and things is not too difficult. It's hard to get rid of the things you care about. It is difficult to avoid wasting time on things that are simple to justify but don't benefit you. The things you care about but aren't significant are the ones that have the biggest chance of stalling your progress. Every action has a price. Even actions that seem neutral aren't. They occupy room, time, and energy that could be used for more significant or superior deeds. Frequently, we are in motion, whirling, rather than acting. Thus, reject any meaningless energy and attachments of any kind, and choose for "simplicity."

More Emphasis On A 'Silent & Smart Start' ~ 

In the hyperconnected world of today, intricacy appears to be a mark of distinction. We've grown used to overscheduling, multitasking, and balancing a plethora of obligations, just to pass out at the end of the day from tiredness. We frequently misinterpret "busy" as "important." We must take a step back and evaluate this situation. There is merit to the idea that less is truly more when it comes to simplicity; this is known as the power of simplicity. There are benefits to the pervasive complexity in our lives. Complexity has sparked creativity, accelerated technical advancement, and pushed humanity to new frontiers. However, when complexity starts to overtake our day-to-day activities, it can produce a situation where tension and anxiety are always present. We are faced with a deluge of options every day, ranging from minor selections like toothpaste brands to major ones like picking a career path. With a constant stream of notifications, social media updates, and information, our digital lives are even more complicated. And suppose we went in a different direction? What if we choose simplicity as our alternative? This has nothing to do with turning down opportunities or being afraid of challenges. It's about making space for what matters by getting rid of mental and physical clutter. This is how simplicity can be powerful.

Buffett's method is especially clever because of this. For everyone who reads this post, they are crucial. It's quite simple to rationalize away the time you spend with them. These things are diversions, though, when you weigh them against your top five objectives. As Warren Buffet states," You should have five completed projects instead of twenty half-finished ones since you are wasting time on unimportant tasks. Kill with ruthlessness. Make an effort to concentrate. The people you love but who don't love you back are the most harmful distractions!"