The Matrix in Action—A Real-World Application
Episode #9 of the course “How to make better decisions with the Matrix” by Kari Beaulieu
So, you’ve stuck with me until now, and for that I say:
We can’t do that virtually, though, so instead, I’d like to share one real-world example of how I used Eisenhower to get myself organized at home.
If you’d like, follow along with the steps listed below. It’s a walkthrough of how to implement Eisenhower in your personal life. You’re about to get a sneak peek of my own life, with real examples for each step, to help you get your wheels turning.
Here We Go
1. List three things that you need to do this week. These items are “Critical and Urgent”—do them before it’s too late or there will be consequences. I need to:
• Pay the electric bill
• Book a doctor’s appointment to check out the sun spot on my hand
• Get a new wifi router (mine’s slow and it’s driving me crazy!)
2. List three personal goals and convert them to action items. These are “Critical but Not Urgent”—once you do them, you’ll feel on top of the world. I’m going to:
• Sign up for a Spanish class (I’m conversational, but I want to get fluent)
• Buy a cookbook (my long-distance boyfriend is coming to visit, and I want to impress)
• Complete the Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification (to get a leg up at work)
3. List three little things that have been bothering you. These are “Urgent but Not Critical.” Deal with them ASAP, when you’re too low on energy to work on Critical tasks.
• My room is a mess. I’ll clean it when I finish this draft, I promise…
• I’m out of dental floss. I’ll buy some next time I grocery shop
• The memory on my phone is full. I need to transfer photos to the computer.
4. What did you waste time on last week? These should be removed or cut back on.
• I spent two hours on the phone with my long-distance boyfriend three days a week (yikes)
• I watched movies for around eight hours on Saturday when it rained all day
There You Have It
I would be lying if I said I don’t think in matrix format sometimes when I lay down to go to sleep at night. I’m constantly thinking to myself, “Was that a critical task”? Was it really urgent?”
This may sound absurd, but this simple mindset has helped me—and thousands of others—remove clutter from my life and focus on the things that really matter.
Every now and then, conduct this exercise to check in with yourself: Are you spending time on things that matter?
Recommended book
“The New One Minute Manager” by Ken Blanchard
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