Primary and Secondary Tasks

Primary tasks are important. Picking three big things to accomplish in the day is a great way avoid busywork and make real progress. 

But secondary tasks are also important. Having a list of little things that keep the stone skipping along the water really helps. Without it, bills go unpaid, meetings get forgotten, and emails get left on read. 

You can spend your whole career on secondary tasks. But you don’t get the infrastructure to focus on primary tasks without taking care of the little things too.