PRIORITY SAMURAI: Set Priorities | Master Time | Make Space

Section 2: The Big Picture

To clarify your goals in work and life, you need to think deeply about who you are and where you're going—easier said than done.

In a world of constant interruptions and digital distractions, it’s tough to pause, reflect on long-term opportunities, and choose the right path.

In this video, we share practical ideas to help you ‘think big’ as a habit, building seasonal, weekly, and daily rhythms to reflect on what truly matters and become a Priority Samurai.

Section 2: The Big Picture

Most of us 'prioritise' too many things at once.

The word ‘priority’ comes from the Latin word prior, meaning "first." Until the 20th century, a priority was singular—it meant your most important thing. Only recently has it come to mean one of many important tasks.

In this video, we explore the importance of discovering your one thing—the most important goal to progress this year. Recognising your One Thing doesn't negate the reality that we have numerous responsibilities; rather, it helps establish a foundation for genuine prioritisation.

What is the one thing that truly matters for work? For life? This year? This week? This day?

Section 2: The Big Picture

There's a Russian proverb: "If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one."

Now, I’m not sure I could catch a rabbit in real life, but the analogy is spot on for prioritisation. The more projects we pursue at once, the less we achieve with excellence. More projects mean more admin, more overhead, and less focus.

Instead of juggling multiple commitments, a Priority Samurai narrows their focus, making intentional choices to declutter their schedule and commit to fewer things.

In this video, we outline two key principles to help you reduce your commitments and declutter your schedule—exploring "The Heart of the Story" and "The Pareto Principle."

Section 2: The Big Picture

If you're like most professionals, you're juggling too much—multiple projects, tasks, emails, and that’s just at work!

The secret to true productivity is to make space for your one thing, but that’s easier said than done. It’s easy to take on more and hard to make space for fewer things. If you feel overloaded with commitments, you’ll need effective tactics to gradually declutter your schedule.

In this lesson, we outline 5 key tactics to lighten your load—eliminate, reduce, delegate, automate, and outsource—to help you become a true Priority Samurai.

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

There's a popular saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” This is especially true for achieving long-term priorities.

In this lesson, we explore the importance of breaking goals and projects into small, bite-sized actions.

While it may sound simple, most people don’t break down projects to the level needed for everyday execution. We’ll explain the value of a two-level list and share personal examples to help you define and break down your next actions.

The smaller and clearer your tasks, the more likely you are to achieve what truly matters in work and life.

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

There’s a secret to writing tasks that actually get done. Clear and specific tasks drive action, while vague and generalised ones can stall your progress.

In this lesson, we outline the importance of a well-defined task list using the Next Action Format and the 3 Task Tests.

For the Next Action Format, start with a verb, add enough detail to get started, and schedule time for more demanding tasks. When identifying your next action, apply the 3 Task Tests: the Immediate Action Test, the Alternative Action Test, and the Incompetent Self-Test.

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

There’s nothing quite like witnessing a Priority Samurai in action.

In this screencast, we demonstrate how to break down large projects into manageable next steps, using the Next Action Format and the 3 Task Tests.

Once you finish the lesson, go on to apply these techniques to break down your most important projects in the same way.

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

It’s easy to stay busy—rushing from task to task, meeting to meeting, and juggling emails and Slack messages. But is that truly productive?

How do you know if the activities you’re doing are important? How can you measure real progress each week?

In this lesson, we introduce the life-changing concept of "Big Rocks," adapted from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and tailored for our always-on digital age.

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

If you want to plan your week using "Big Rocks," you’ll need to separate what’s important from what’s not. That’s where Covey’s Quadrant comes in.

This well-known framework for prioritisation helps you identify tasks as urgent, non-urgent, important, or not important. It’s a practical tool to decide which tasks should be prioritised and which can be deferred.

How can you spend more time on Quadrant 2 (important but not yet urgent) activities and less time on Quadrant 3 (urgent but not important) tasks, in order to redirect your precious time and attention?

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

There are 5 steps to effective weekly planning: Define Big Rocks, Record Big Rocks, Book a Weekly Review, Follow a Consistent Process, and Time Blocking.

In this lesson, we get practical—helping you decide where to record your Big Rocks, how to schedule a recurring weekly planning time, and which checklist to follow when you do.

With this approach, you’ll have everything you need to lock in a weekly planning routine and cut through even the most complex workloads!

Section 3: The Weekly Perspective

Time-blocking—scheduling dedicated time in your calendar for your most important projects—is one of the most crucial time-management skills you can learn.

Many leaders I coach easily book meetings with others but struggle to carve out time for themselves to focus on strategic goals.

In this video, we provide practical tips to integrate time-blocking into your weekly review. We also discuss shared and coordinated time-blocking for teams, fostering deep work.

Rather than leave it to chance, Priority Samurai's take control of their calendars and make space for what truly matters.

Section 4: The Daily Perspective

The Daily Perspective is where the rubber meets the road—where we tick off tasks and make real progress.

But in the whirlwind of life, it’s often hard to get started, tackle difficult tasks, or stick to our plan, even when we've set aside time in our calendar for priority actions.

In this lesson, we introduce two powerful strategies to overcome procrastination and make progress: MITs (Most Important Tasks) and the Pomodoro Method. These daily techniques can help you overcome inertia, reduce distractions, and achieve focus.

Section 4: The Daily Perspective

Do you struggle to tackle complex or difficult tasks that matter in the long run?

In this video, we introduce our third anti-procrastination technique: "eat the frog"—starting with your most important task first.

Instead of beginning your day with emails, messages, and small tasks, consider making progress on something significant to set the tone for the day.

While this technique may not suit everyone, it’s worth reflecting on when you have the most energy and using that time to focus on priority work that requires deep concentration.

Section 4: The Daily Perspective

The modern workplace is buzzing with activity, especially in open offices where interruptions are constant. Add to that our digital distractions—pings and notifications from multiple devices, day and night.

In this lesson, we share top tips and strategies to help you manage distractions in both your physical and digital environments. It’s about being intentional—taking ownership of your attention and actively reducing distractions around you.

Section 5: Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve completed the course.

In this final video, we’ll recap key lessons and practices from the series, along with extra tips and bonus advice to help you continue your journey. Don’t skip this video—it’s essential to solidify your learning and bring everything together.

While we’ll miss you, this isn’t the end of our journey together.

Now go, achieve great things, focusing on what truly matters as a Priority Samurai!