I tend to think about things that catch my eye. Today it’s the difference between Prioritizing and Focusing.
This started with something I read in the book ‘The Laws of Subtraction’ by Matthew E. May. The author had interviewed John Maeda who, in turn, shared his thoughts about priority and focus.
I often use these words without giving them much critical thought. Sometimes interchangeably. But they are fundamentally different.
Prioritizing consists of deciding on the most important option, among many. It is, essentially, tossing aside the less important things so that they no longer clutter your landscape. It is about subtraction.
Focusing, on the other hand, is not about selection. Focusing is about applying your total energy to the task at hand.
Prioritizing is about discarding something. Focusing is about making something.
This may seem trivial and obvious. But the subtlety of this insight struck me. It can be demoralizing when you’re unable to focus because so much is swirling around in your mind. Maybe, instead of focusing, you should be prioritizing. And the opposite. Maybe you’re procrastinating by continuously reprioritizing when you should simply trust yourself and throw your energy on the one thing that you already know is most important.
Prioritize to decide what to work on. Then focus your energies to deliver results.
What’s your experience?
Image Generated with AI ∙ August 5, 2024 at 8:52 AM
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