The 5 Choices

The Path to Extraordinary Productivity

Wall Street Journal Books, 2014

15 min read

10 take-aways

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What's inside?

The “5 Choices” time-management model helps you get more done in less time.

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Recommendation

In today’s technology-driven, hyper-connected world, more demands than ever compete for your attention. While many time-management books focus on the underlying causes of this problem, a trio of authors from the FranklinCovey consulting group – Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill and Leena Rinne – presents a solution, the detailed “Time Matrix model,” which you can use as a framework for organizing your time. The authors identify five areas in which your choices can help you set meaningful goals and priorities that will hold your focus. Their reliance on copyrighted buzzwords and terms feels somewhat contrived, but their time-management model is well researched and extremely useful. getAbstract recommends this pragmatic approach to anyone facing to-do list anxiety.

Summary

Feeling Overwhelmed?

The pressure of trying to get everything done can be stressful and debilitating. The relentless flow of incoming tasks, meetings, duties and responsibilities – coupled with your never-ending to-do list – may threaten your welfare. Technology now enables you to accomplish more in less time. But paradoxically, a technology-enabled, hyper-connected world constantly strains your attention and resources, leaving you with less time, energy and focus to devote to the things you regard as important.

Most professional jobs demand mental dexterity and constant decision making. Conscientious people handle this in a linear way by tackling each problem as it arises. Unfortunately, this strategy doesn’t work when you face too many decisions to address by simply working longer and harder. As you try to manage the influx of choices, your attention comes under constant attack. Incoming emails and texts, compounded by endless attractive online distractions, make it difficult to maintain focus. The continual onslaught drains your energy, mentally and physically. At the end of the day, you feel burned out, unproductive and unsatisfied.

Most people spend about...

About the Authors

Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill and Leena Rinne have senior roles at FranklinCovey, a global consulting firm specializing in time-management and leadership training.

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B. S. 6 years ago

As a certified FranklinCovey facilitator of this content, this is a great summary of the actual course content. I will use it when I recommend it to other.
C. P. 7 years ago

The presented points are convincing and give a good guideline of principles that can be applied in my daily life. Thus, I will try to apply the time matrix model as much as possible. #30DaysOfSummaries
D. H. 7 years ago

Some good insights .I feel that regularly reviewing all( Q1 ,Q3,Q4 )activities to see for patterns and find ways to keep reducing Q1 activities by moving them to Q2 ... will bring greater ongoing leverage of time ....

Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill and Leena Rinne