The To-Do
List Trap
About 60% of people are what we call task-dominant thinkers.
Their mindset is:
“What do we need to do, Let’s get going.” They place high value on productivity and efficiency, often showing little patience for those who disrupt their workflow. These individuals adopt a “ready, fire, aim” approach—believing it’s better to start with 80% of the information and make adjustments along the way. This mindset often leads to promotions, as task-dominant thinkers are incredibly efficient and productive.
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However, their strength can also be their weakness. Task-dominant thinkers often neglect strategic thinking, focusing solely on completing tasks like a racehorse with blinders on, determined to reach the finish line at all costs. As they rise in their careers, they must shift from being the horse to being the jockey—getting above the details to make strategic decisions rather than merely finishing tasks.
The real danger is the “To-Do List Trap.” Task-dominant individuals often gauge their productivity by how many items they check off their list. They may start the day with 20 tasks, including two or three difficult, time-consuming ones. Rather than tackling these first, they choose to clear the easy tasks. As the day progresses, the list grows, and those challenging but crucial items remain undone.
And what if the difficult, time consuming tasks are in fact the most strategically important to the organization? Avoiding these, and instead spending time on smaller issues that yield psychological satisfaction to you, means you may not actually be doing what the company needs you to do.
This trap leads to prioritizing the quantity of work over the quality. If this sounds like you, be intentional about prioritizing your list. Use an A-B-C or 1-2-3 system to ensure your focus is on high-value tasks, not just checking boxes. Shift your focus from doing more to doing what matters most for you and your organization.
It’s time for you to turn the To Do List into a tool for meaningful productivity every day.
Here’s how it works. You get 48 Positive Prompts, delivered via text, over 90 days. It starts with 5 days in a row, one day off, 3 days in a row, one day off, then every other day over the next 80 days.
