The Productivity Rule of Three: "Veni, vidi, vici"

The Rule of Three is a potent writing principle suggesting that concepts, situations, and ideas are better understood when presented in groups of three.

The rhythm created by three words often makes them more engaging and impactful.

Our brains naturally process information in chunks, and three is an optimal number for retention.

Examples

• Ready, Set, Go

• Past, Present, Future

• Mind, Body, Soul

• Low, Medium, High

• "Veni, vidi, vici" – "I came, I saw, I conquered"

• Nike - “Just do it”

• Getting things do

The same principle applies to productivity.

The Rule of Three is also a productivity principle that helps you achieve your goals and get things done.

This rule encourages you to focus on your top three most important tasks (MITs) daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly.

I’ll use the famous Latin phrase to ("Veni, vidi, vici" – "I came, I saw, I conquered") to explain the stages of The rule of three for productivity.

Stage Veni: Getting Started with the Rule of Three

You start by identifying them. To identify your MITs, ask yourself these three questions:

1. High-value tasks: "Which tasks, if completed today, would make the most significant impact in my professional and personal life?"

2. Tight-deadline tasks: "What task needs to be done within the next 24 hours?"

3. Long-term impact tasks: "Does this task contribute to my long-term objectives?"

Stage Vidi: Best Practices for Achieving MITs

After identifying your MITs, use these best practices to consistently achieve them:

- Separate list: Keep your must-do MITs separate from your general to-do list.

- Ranking: Prioritize your MITs based on importance. Use the Eisenhower matrix.

- Focus: By narrowing your daily focus to just three priority tasks, you gain clarity.

- Consistency: Build a daily habit of capturing and prioritising your MITs . Consistency is key to productivity.

Stage Vici: Benefits of Implementing the Rule of Three

Finally, you conquer by Implementing the Rule of Three. It offers the following benefits:

- Defined plan: By setting your three clear goals, you start your day with purpose.

- Stay on Track: Focusing on just three tasks minimises distraction and keeps you productive.

- Simple to follow: No complex system, easy to use.

- Quality over quantity: You tend to get the best results for those three MITs.

- Boost innovation: Fewer tasks allow for deeper thinking and creativity.

Do you know your three MITs for today?

All you need to do is Identify, prioritise and get them done.