The Ivy Lee Method
The $25,000 productivity advice: Focus on just 6 tasks each day, in order of priority
The $25,000 Productivity Secret
In 1918, productivity consultant Ivy Lee met with Charles M. Schwab, president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Schwab challenged Lee: "Show me a way to get more things done with my time, and I'll pay you any fee you name."
Lee handed Schwab a piece of paper and said: "Write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Number them in order of importance. Tomorrow morning, start working on #1 and don't move to #2 until #1 is finished."
Schwab tried it. Weeks later, he sent Lee a check for $25,000 (equivalent to over $400,000 today), calling it the most profitable lesson he'd ever learned. The method is beautifully simple, brutally effective.
How the Ivy Lee Method Works
End Each Day with Planning
Before you finish work, write down the six most important tasks for tomorrow. Not ten, not twenty—six.
Prioritize by Importance
Number them 1-6 based on true importance, not urgency. What will move the needle most?
Start with #1 Tomorrow Morning
When you start work, immediately begin on task #1. No email, no Slack, no distractions.
Finish Before Moving On
Work on #1 until it's complete. Only then can you move to #2. Single-task focus is the key.
Repeat Down the List
Continue through #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 in order. If you don't finish all six, that's okay—you did the most important work.
Unfinished Tasks Roll to Tomorrow
Any incomplete tasks move to tomorrow's top 6. Reprioritize and start again.
Why 6 Tasks? Why Not More?
Forces Prioritization
Six tasks is enough to make meaningful progress, but few enough that you must choose wisely.
Prevents Overwhelm
Long task lists paralyze you. Six tasks is manageable and psychologically achievable.
Reduces Decision Fatigue
You already know what's next—no mid-day wondering 'what should I work on now?'
Guarantees Progress
Even if you only complete 3-4 tasks, you've knocked out your most important work.
How Boost Makes It Smarter
Smart Suggestions
Boost intelligently suggests your top 6 tasks based on:
💡 But you're still in control: Reorder tasks, swap suggestions, or manually assign your own top 6. Boost suggests, you decide.
Best Practices
Plan Tonight for Tomorrow
Don't waste morning energy deciding what to do—decide the night before so you can dive in immediately.
Start with #1, No Exceptions
Resist the urge to check email or do 'quick tasks' first. #1 gets your best energy.
Be Ruthless About Priority
Your #1 task should be THE most important thing. If everything is important, nothing is.
Review Weekly
Each Sunday, look at your week's top 6 lists. Are you focusing on the right areas? Adjust accordingly.