Hustle, interrupted: a story of ambition without aim
Jason, a 32-year-old Brooklyn company founder, was an expert at keeping occupied. With conflicting appointments, client pitches, team check-ins, and never-ending to-do lists, his calendar appeared to be a war zone. He fell into bed every night, fatigued, but not sure what he had done.
- Emails? Replied.
- Slack? Cleared.
- Urgent tasks? Managed.
Does visionary growth yield results? Once again, the notion was brushed aside
In his own company, he felt like a firefighter—always responding, never taking the lead. Jason wasn’t idle. He was completely immersed in the moment.
The turning point: discovering the Eisenhower Matrix
Jason discovered the Eisenhower Matrix, a conceptual model employed by Fortune 500 CEOs and military generals alike while browsing productivity prioritization forums late one evening.
He clicked on a link that opened with the words, “What is urgent is seldom important, and what is important is seldom urgent,” attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower, former president of the United States and World War II general.
Those words hit him like an explosive revelation, shaking his core Jason became aware that he had constructed his days around necessity rather than significance. It was time to prioritize like a CEO.
Eisenhower Matrix explained: a time management framework
The Eisenhower Matrix guide, sometimes referred to as the time management matrix, divides work into four sections:
- Quadrant I covers real deadlines and crises.
- Quadrant II holds strategic pursuits—long-term planning, building relationships, and developing skills.
- Quadrant III consists of tasks that seem urgent yet can be delegated, often misleading us.
- Quadrant IV is merely a wellspring of distractions.
| Quadrant | Description | Action |
| I | Urgent & Important | Do it now |
| II | Not Urgent but Important | Schedule it |
| III | Urgent but Not Important | Delegate it |
| IV | Not Urgent & Not Important | Delete it |
How Jason applied it—and transformed his startup
After printing the matrix, Jason mounted it on his office wall. He kept note of every task for a week. Then he classified everything on Sunday evening.
He was astonished by what he saw:
- He dedicated 65% of his time to Quadrant III, a space dominated by what others deem emergencies.
- Quadrant II, the space where enterprises take shape, made up just 10% of the total.
He put the plan into effect:
- Assigned an assistant to handle client scheduling
- Blocked out “CEO Hours” for product vision work.
- Eliminated weekly meetings that lacked specific objectives.
Within a few weeks, his team caught wind of the change. Meanwhile, Jason became noticeably more composed, deliberate, and ultimately, visionary.
How you can prioritize like a CEO
Here’s how to apply this strategy, whether you’re in charge of a business or just your career:
- List every duty you have to complete each week.
- Place them on the matrix and be upfront about it.
- Act now:
- Complete the Quadrant I assignments today.
- Set aside time for Quadrant II.
- Assign tasks from Quadrant III
- Get rid of Quadrant IV.
- Do it every week: this is a shift in mindset, not just a one-off trick.
Using prioritization techniques such as the Eisenhower Matrix guide might also increase your work and performance.
The bottom line
Jason didn’t require additional work. He needed to concentrate more. He assumed his position as a true leader by moving from reactive busyness to strategic prioritization.
To prioritize like a CEO, you don’t need a title.
All you need is a matrix and the self-control to apply it.
Disclaimer: Jason’s story is entirely fictional and serves to highlight common challenges.
Join us as we dive deeper into powerful mental models—coming soon in our new series, How to Think Smart.
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