Dear Success Seeker,

This "secret" is not rocket science, nor is it mine. Others have taught it. More importantly, the most successful people in the world have used it. If you apply this principle it can easily double or even triple your results. How would that change things for you?

Napoleon Hill introduced the principle in "Think and Grow Rich" with the following story:

In the early 1930s a fascinating meeting took place between Mr. Charles Schwab, then president of Bethlehem Steel, and Ivy Lee, a self-styled management consultant. Lee was an aggressive, self-confident man who had secured the interview by telling Mr. Schwab that if the management of Bethlehem Steel would follow his advice, the company's operations would be improved and their profits increased.

Schwab responded, "If you can show us a way to get more things done, I'll be glad to listen; and if it works, I'll pay you whatever you ask within reason."

During their meeting Lee handed Schwab a blank piece of paper and said, "Write down the most important things you have to do tomorrow." Mr. Schwab did so. Lee continued, "Now number them in order of importance." Schwab did so. "Tomorrow morning start working on number one and stay with it until you have completed it. Then go on to number two and number three and so on... Don't worry if you haven't completed everything by the end of the day. At least you will have completed the most important projects. Do this every day. After you have been convinced of the value of this system, have your managers try it. Try it as long as you like and then send me a check for whatever you think the advice is worth."

The two men shook hands and Lee left the president's office. Several weeks later Charles Schwab sent Ivy Lee a check for $25,000 - an astronomical amount in the 1930s! He said it was the most profitable lesson he had learned in his long business career. Mr. Schwab required all his managers to use this strategy and claims it was one of the keys that enabled Bethlehem Steel to become the biggest independent steel producer in the world.

I don't know whether or not this story is true but I can promise you this. If you apply this strategy in your life, it will massively increase your results.

Here's the ProCoach version:

Each evening before shutting things down, make a list of the important things you need to do. (You can also do this first thing in the morning, but doing it the night before gives your subconscious mind a chance to work on these items overnight.)

Now go through your list and identify the three most important items to complete the next day - your Top Three Priorities. Write them down in order and draw a little square box beside each item so you can check it off when it's done. Now post your list - three items only - where you can see it. (I use a sticky note attached to the bottom of my computer monitor.)

In the morning, start working on the first priority and keep at it until it is done. Then move to the next. If you have meetings scheduled or other distractions to handle, block off time in your calendar to ensure you spend as much time as possible working on your most important items.

Why is this so powerful? Because you have a limited amount of time and energy, yet a virtually unlimited number of things to do. I guarantee that you will never get it all done! The vast majority of people get distracted and waste their precious time and energy doing things that do not move them forward. Note that this secret is not about getting more done; it is about getting the right things done.

There you have it. "The #1 Productivity Secret of All Time" is remarkably simple. It takes you just a few minutes each day to identify your Top Three Priorities. Develop the habit of doing this daily and you will be astonished at how fast this increases your results and accelerates your momentum.

To your success!

Andrew Barber-Starkey, Master Certified Coach
Founder and President, ProCoach Success System