The Ivy Lee Six-Task Priority Method
Do the most important thing first each day -- the only trick you need
The Ivy Lee Six-Task Priority Method is one of the oldest and most effective productivity systems ever devised. In 1918, productivity consultant Ivy Lee gave Bethlehem Steel president Charles M. Schwab a simple daily routine: at the end of each workday, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Prioritize them in order of true importance. The next day, concentrate only on the first task until it is finished, then move to the second, and so on. Move unfinished items to a new list of six for the following day.
The method works because it does four things simultaneously. First, it is simple enough to actually use. Complex productivity systems fail because complexity makes them hard to maintain. Second, it forces hard decisions by limiting you to six tasks, similar to Warren Buffett's 25-5 Rule. Third, it eliminates the friction of starting by deciding your first task the night before. Fourth, it requires single-tasking -- you cannot work on task two until task one is complete.
The bottom line according to Clear: do the most important thing first each day. It is the only productivity trick you need. Schwab agreed -- he wrote Lee a check for $25,000 (equivalent to $400,000 today) after three months.
- Do the most important thing first each day -- it is the only productivity trick you need.
- Imposing constraints like a six-task limit forces hard decisions about what truly matters.
- Deciding your first task the night before eliminates morning decision fatigue.
- Single-tasking beats multi-tasking because mastery requires focus and consistency.
- If you commit to nothing, you will be distracted by everything.
- Write Six Tasks at End of DayAt the end of each workday, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write more than six. This constraint is what makes the method powerful -- it forces you to evaluate your priorities and make hard decisions about what truly matters versus what merely feels busy. As Clear notes, there is something magical about imposing limits on yourself. Similar to Warren Buffett's 25-5 Rule, the limit forces you to focus on the critical few and ignore everything else.Pro tipWrite these tasks in a physical notebook that you leave open on your desk. When you arrive the next morning, your first task is already waiting for you.WarningDo not cheat by writing vague tasks like 'work on project.' Be specific enough that you know exactly what doing looks like.
- Prioritize by True ImportanceOrder your six tasks by their true importance, not by urgency or ease. The distinction matters: urgent tasks demand immediate reaction (emails, calls, meetings) while important tasks contribute to your long-term mission, values, and goals. The Eisenhower distinction applies here -- what is important is seldom urgent. By placing your most important task first, you ensure it gets your best energy and focus regardless of what interruptions arise later.Pro tipAsk for each task: 'If I could only accomplish one thing tomorrow, which would have the most meaningful impact?' That is task number one.
- Single-Task Through the ListWhen you arrive the next morning, work only on the first task until it is completely finished. Do not start task two until task one is done. This eliminates multi-tasking, which Clear identifies as one of the great productivity myths. Study world-class experts in nearly any field -- athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs -- and you find one universal characteristic: focus. You cannot be great at one task if you are constantly dividing your time ten different ways. The method removes the temptation to bounce between tasks by making the rule absolute.Pro tipIf task one is blocked by an external dependency, move it to tomorrow's list and proceed to task two. Do not use blocks as excuses to multi-task.
- Roll Over Unfinished TasksAt the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day. Then add new items to fill any open slots. This rollover mechanism ensures nothing falls through the cracks while maintaining the constraint of only six items. If a task rolls over repeatedly, it either needs to be broken into smaller pieces or it is not actually important enough to deserve a spot on your six.Pro tipIf a task has rolled over three days in a row, ask: Is this genuinely important, or am I avoiding it? If important, break it smaller. If not, eliminate it.
In 1918, Charles M. Schwab was running Bethlehem Steel, America's second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder. He brought in Ivy Lee, gave him 15 minutes with each executive, and offered to pay whatever the method was worth after three months. Lee taught the simple six-task prioritization routine to each executive. After three months of implementation across the executive team, Schwab was so pleased with the results that he wrote Lee a check for $25,000.
In 1918, Charles M. Schwab was president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the largest shipbuilder and second-largest steel producer in America. Thomas Edison once called him the 'master hustler.' Seeking an edge over competition, Schwab met with Ivy Lee, a pioneer in public relations and a respected productivity consultant. Lee asked for 15 minutes with each executive. When Schwab asked the cost, Lee said 'Nothing, unless it works. After three months, send me a check for whatever you feel it is worth.' After three months, Schwab was so delighted with results that he wrote Lee a check for $25,000 -- equivalent to approximately $400,000 in 2015 dollars.