Words Into Works #134 | The Two-List Strategy

Have you ever sat down to work, only to feel paralyzed by the sheer number of things competing for your attention? You’re not alone. For most of us, the problem isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s the impossibility of doing everything at once.

But what if the key to productivity wasn’t about juggling more but focusing on less? What if the path forward required ruthless clarity on what matters most—and a deliberate decision to let go of the rest?

Warren Buffett’s Little-Known Secret to Staying Focused

Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most successful investors, is famous for his razor-sharp focus.

But it’s a story about his longtime pilot, Mike Flint, that illustrates how he thinks about priorities.

Popularized by Warren Buffett and referenced in Bill Gates’ The Road Ahead, Flint asked Buffett for advice on achieving greater success. Buffett suggested a simple exercise. First, Buffett asked Flint to list his top 25 career goals. After much thought, he came up with a comprehensive list. Next, Buffett asked him to circle just the 5 most important goals—the ones that mattered most.

When Flint was done, Buffett explained the twist: the remaining 20 goals, while important, weren’t his focus. In fact, they were now labeled as his “Avoid-At-All-Costs” list. Why? Because the biggest obstacles to achieving greatness aren’t distractions that clearly waste your time; they’re the good opportunities that subtly pull you away from your true purpose.

Buffett’s advice? Focus all your energy on the top 5 and ignore the rest, no matter how tempting.

Why the Two-List Strategy Works

At first glance, Buffett’s Two-List Strategy seems almost too simple. But that’s exactly why it works. It forces us to confront a truth we often avoid: not all goals are created equal, and pursuing too many at once is a recipe for mediocrity.

The brilliance of this approach lies in its ruthless focus. The second list—the one you’re supposed to avoid—is the danger zone. These aren’t trivial tasks or outright distractions; they’re the things that feel important enough to demand your time but aren’t critical to your long-term progress. These are the “just one more project” goals that can quietly derail your progress.

By identifying and actively ignoring these secondary priorities, you free up mental bandwidth and energy to concentrate on the work that truly matters. To paraphrase Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing less, better.

Think of it this way: your time, energy, and attention are limited. Every “yes” to something from List B is a “no” to the five things that actually matter. The Two-List Strategy permits you to say no, guilt-free, so you can give your full focus to the goals that will move the needle.

How to Master the Two-List Strategy in 3 Simple Steps

Now it’s your turn. Set aside 10 minutes today and try the Two-List Strategy for yourself.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Write down your top 25 goals. Take a moment to reflect on what you want to achieve—whether it’s career ambitions, personal growth, or long-term dreams. Don’t overthink it; just get them all down on paper.
2. Circle the top 5 that matter most. Be honest with yourself. Which goals are the most impactful? Which ones align with your deepest values and aspirations? These are your priorities.
3. Create two lists. List A contains your top 5 goals. The ones that matter most to you. The goals that excite you. The goals that align with your values, and will have the biggest impact on your life or work. List B includes the remaining 20.

Here’s the hard part: Commit to focusing exclusively on List A. Make it a point to revisit these priorities regularly and let everything on List B go—no matter how tempting it might be to dabble.

This isn’t merely a thought experiment—it’s a disciplined approach to gaining clarity in your actions, helping you focus your time, energy, and attention on the vital few things that matter most.

Focus Demands Discipline—and Sacrifice

The hardest part of this strategy isn’t writing the lists—it’s having the discipline to honor them. Saying no to something that feels important is uncomfortable, especially when it’s something you genuinely care about. But that’s the point: success demands clarity and sacrifice.

As you create your lists and focus on what matters, remember this: every step you take toward your top five goals is a vote toward the type of person you want to become (ht: James Clear). And every distraction you say no to is an act of self-respect and commitment to your future.

Write your lists, define your priorities, and trust the process. The power of this strategy lies not in its complexity but in its simplicity—and in your courage to follow through.