The Daily Decision

“You know what the most important decision we face every working day—without fail?” I asked a senior team member this afternoon.

We had just been pulled into a work issue that demanded our attention but, in the grand scheme of things, wasn’t the best use of our time.

My young colleague looked at me, unsure where I was going with this. He smiled, buying himself a moment. “You tell me, boss?” he said, smartly tossing the ball back into my court.

“The biggest decision we make daily is what to focus on,” I said. “Instead of getting hijacked by events, deciding upfront what truly matters sets the course for the entire day. Everything else falls into place or falls away.”

I could see him turning it over in his mind. After a pause, he nodded. “I see what you mean,” he said, this time with more certainty.