Shane Parrish

That's follow through.

But the real breakthrough came from a story she'd heard about an efficiency expert named Ivy Lee and an industrialist named Charles Schwab.

Lee walked into Schwab's office with a proposition.

He told the president of Bethlehem Steel that he could increase his people's efficiency by spending just 15 minutes with each executive.

Schwab looked at him and asked the obvious question.

How much will this cost me?

And Lee's answer will surprise you.

He said nothing unless it works.

In three months, you can send me a check for whatever you feel it was worth.

So Schwab agreed.

And Lee met with every executive at Bethlehem Steel and asked them to make a promise.

For 90 days before leaving the office each day, write down the six most important things you need to do tomorrow.

Number them in order of importance.

The next morning, start with number one, finish it, scratch it off, move to number two.

If something doesn't get done, put it on tomorrow's list.

That's it.

That is the entire system.

ninety days later schwab sent ivy lee a check for thirty-five thousand dollars lee had taught them follow through and schwab believed it was worth a fortune

I was so impressed by the story's message Mary Kay wrote that ever since I've made up my own daily list and it's worked out wonderfully for me.

Remember, she was sleeping five hours a night, working from five in the morning until 10 at night.