How to Think About Prioritizing

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Think about prioritization like planning a road trip. The first step is launching your trusty sidekick, Google Maps. 

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You need to think of prioritization the same way. It’s a tool for planning your route to success. 

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As you plan your route with Google all you need to do is input your starting point, your end point and all the attractions and rest stops you need to make along the way. 

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That’s exactly what you’re doing when you prioritize your goals. Yep, it can be that simple!

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But how?

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Through the 3 Key Priority Principles:

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1. Your Budget 

Before you hit the open road you have to make sure you have enough money for gas and enough time to get there. 

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Spending time and money on too many things at once is stressful. Instead, break it down and figure out what is important to you. 

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For example, if you want to know who your audience is, invest time and money on researching and analytics tools. 

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SUMMARY: Only spend time on the projects that will help you reach your end goal. Designate or outsource the rest. 

2. The Sights

Now that you know you can afford to go on this trip, what exactly do you want to take in along the way? And please don’t tell me it’s the Big Apple on the way to Toronto. 

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Are you planning to eat certain foods, drink certain wines, or take in certain parts of the city? 

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Well then make it easy on yourself and categorize it. Create buckets. This way you can figure out how to most effectively spend your time and money. 

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If your goal is to better define your audience then break that down: 

• Analyzing who they are and what they like 
• Create a message and voice they want to hear
• Strategize when and where to share that message with them

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SUMMARY: Categorize your priorities into buckets to help you organize your thoughts

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3. Your Roadmap

Although it can be fun to wander, it’s never fun to get lost, so plan ahead of time. And don’t just plan the night before, plan well in advance.

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If you want to have a better understanding of your audience, acknowledge that you’re going to need more than a few nights of research.

You’ll be drafting and redrafting your message again and again before you get it right. And that strategy you plan to implement isn’t going to be perfect straight out of the gate.You’ll be going back to the drawing board once or twice. 

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The important thing is to make sure you’re on the right highways to reach your target landmarks as you drive to your final destination.

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SUMMARY: Break your project down into milestones so you can see your progress

So, since there are no other trips to be planning during a pandemic, why not plot out the route to your success instead? As Michael Jackson said, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Focus your time and energy where it matters most and cut the rest.

2. Think of it as a puzzle, categorize the pieces first and then work on putting them together.

3. Plan for 2030. Don’t just focus on the here and now, figure out what steps you need to take and what milestones you need to make to reach your end goal.