Ivy Lee Method of Prioritization
A simple yet powerful productivity technique from 1918 where users write down six most important tasks each evening, prioritize them, and work through them sequentially the next day. Charles M. Schwab paid consultant Ivy Lee $25,000 (equivalent to $400,000 in 2015) after seeing dramatic productivity improvements from this deceptively simple method.
Last updated: 2026-03-20 22:40
Overview
The Ivy Lee Method began in 1918 when productivity consultant Ivy Lee visited Bethlehem Steel. Charles M. Schwab sought to increase his team's efficiency and arranged a meeting with Lee, who proposed a remarkably simple technique.
The Method
At the end of each work day:
- Write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow
- Do not write down more than six tasks
- Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance
- When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task
- Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task
- Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion
- At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day
- Repeat this process every working day
Historical Payment
After three months, Schwab was so delighted with the progress that he wrote Lee a check for $25,000 - equivalent to a $400,000 check in 2015, demonstrating the immense value he saw in this simple system.
Why It Works
Forces Prioritization
Limiting to six tasks forces tough decisions about what truly matters, eliminating the trivial and focusing on the vital.
Eliminates Multitasking
Sequential execution prevents context-switching and promotes deep focus on one task at a time.
Reduces Decision Fatigue
Planning ahead eliminates the "what should I work on next?" question during the workday.
Simplicity Ensures Sustainability
The method is so simple it's easy to maintain over time, unlike complex productivity systems that eventually get abandoned.
Modern Relevance
More than one hundred years old, the Ivy Lee Method remains highly relevant and efficient thanks to its focus on prioritization and eliminating the irrelevant and insignificant from daily schedules.
Implementation Tips
- Be realistic about what can be accomplished in one day
- True prioritization means some important things won't make the list
- Finish tasks completely before moving on
- Don't let urgent but unimportant items displace truly important work
- Review and refine your prioritization skills over time
Connection to Time Tracking
While not a time tracking method itself, the Ivy Lee Method helps ensure tracked time is spent on truly important work rather than busywork, making time tracking data more meaningful for productivity analysis.
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