Restate

Before touching the work, say in one sentence what the job actually is and which outcome must survive the return. Two things, not one: the task, and the thing you refuse to break while doing it. Everything downstream gets sized against that sentence.

Before touching the work, say in one sentence what the job actually is and which outcome must survive the return. Two things, not one: the task, and the thing you refuse to break while doing it. Everything downstream gets sized against that sentence.

Example

Wednesday morning, before opening any of the 74 messages, you write: "Job is to clear client email. The outcome I'm protecting is the Hartford deliverable due Friday." Now a two-hour inbox binge is visibly the wrong move.