Langmeier Backup Magazine

Setting the right priorities is essential not only in your personal life, but also in any business environment. However, it is often challenging to focus on what truly matters. The key question is: What should you prioritize—and what should you avoid investing your time in?

Even for students, making the right decisions about what to learn is crucial. If you attempt to master everything—perhaps even trying to memorize an entire textbook for an exam—you are likely to forget much of the material under pressure. Examiners may also deduct points if you simply recite textbook content instead of explaining concepts in your own words. By contrast, if you have already prioritized your learning and focused on the most important topics, you will find it easier to study and perform better. This approach enables you to deduce missing information from what you have already learned and to reconstruct knowledge independently.

In any case, your decisions should align with your personal strategy and values. Pursuing tasks that contradict your values is counterproductive; not only will you perform poorly, but you may also feel demotivated. Success rarely comes from doing something just for the sake of it, especially if it goes against your principles.

To help you set the right priorities, I have developed a method that simplifies the process of prioritizing tasks, goals, or plans. Instead of simply labeling tasks with letters such as A, B, C, or D, this method considers both the expected benefit and the difficulty of each task.

This approach allows you to quickly identify which tasks are truly worth pursuing—and which ones are better postponed or even ignored.

To implement this method, create a two-dimensional grid on a sheet of paper or on your screen. Draw one horizontal and one vertical axis. You can now position all upcoming tasks within this space based on their expected benefit and difficulty.

In the bottom left corner lies the zero-sum game: tasks that are both difficult and offer little to no benefit. These should be marked with a zero and are best avoided.

If you categorize your tasks using this visual method, you will be able to prioritize them much more effectively:

In the bottom right are tasks that are difficult but potentially very rewarding. These are labeled with a P for "postponed," as they may require more resources or preparation before tackling.

At the top left, you will find tasks that are easy to complete but offer limited benefit. These are marked with a B.

Finally, in the top right are the A tasks: highly rewarding and not particularly difficult or time-consuming. These should be completed as soon as possible.

Tasks of type B (simple but not very impactful) can be handled in between more demanding activities, especially when you need a break from intensive work.

It is important to understand that not all A and B tasks are equally easy or quick to complete. The key is to consider the ratio between benefit and effort, taking into account your current resources and situation. If this ratio is high in favor of benefit, and your circumstances allow you to take on the task, it should be prioritized accordingly.

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