Story
Extreme Focus(driven by Peter): Peter required that everyone be tasked with exactly one priority. He would refuse to discuss virtually anything else with you except what was currently assigned as your #1 initiative. Even our annual review forms in 2001 required each employee to identify their single most valuable contribution to the company. (Although I resisted some of this approach during the PayPal years, I am now a proponent of it and have even devised a theory of why it is crucial.)
Moral of the story
That’s pretty crazy no? “Peter would refuse to discuss anything that is not assigned your #1 priority.” That’s one way of gaining extreme focus. I’ve been thinking about this and many of our (my) problems stem from wanting to do too much at once. Do one thing, do it well. In other words, what is your #1 priority right now?
(From Keith Rabois)