T I m e m a n a g e m e n t

The Law of Three
This principle is probably worth the cost and time of reading
this book. It is based on an amazing discovery that I have
made over the years, working with many thousands of exec-
utives and business owners. It is that, no matter how many
S E T C L E A R P R I O R I T I E S
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American Management Association / www.amanet.org

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different things you do in a week or a month, there are only
three tasks and activities that account for 90 percent of the
value of the contribution you make to your business.
If you make a list of everything you do in the course of a
month, it will probably include twenty, thirty, or even forty
different tasks and responsibilities. But if you review that list
carefully, item by item, you will find that only three items
on your entire list account for 90 percent of your value to
your business.
How do you determine your “big three”? Simple. Make a
list of all your work tasks and responsibilities, from the first
day of the month to the last day, and throughout the year.
Then, answer these three magic questions.
1.
If I could only do one thing on this list, all day long,
which one activity would contribute the greatest value to my
business? Your most important task—the one that accounts
for the greatest contribution you can make to your busi-
ness—will probably pop out at you from the list. It will usu-
ally be quite clear to you, as it is clear to the people around
you. Put a circle around that item.
2.
If I could only do two things on this list, all day long,
what would be the second activity that would make the great-
est contribution to my business? Usually, this item will jump
out at you as well. It may require a little bit more thought,
but it is usually clear and obvious.