Tim Urban’s Yearning Hierarchy9 prioritization model comes in handy here. He uses a bookshelf as an analogy for prioritizing projects: The Nonnegotiable Bowl: This bowl sits on top of the bookshelf, protected and guarded, but also front-of-mind and visually prominent. Top Shelf: Which ones are the top priorities that I’m choosing to pursue at 110%? Middle Shelf: What projects are important to avoid completely failing at? Bottom Shelf: These are the projects that it’d be nice to work on, but only if there’s time. Trash Can: What is easy to fall into but should be resisted at all costs?
