GETTING THE

RIGHT
THINGS DONE

The only productivity book you need

for a more fulfilled life.

SAMIR KAHLOT
 Table of Contents

Introduction .......................................................................... 1
Chapter 1: What are the “Right Things?” ............................ 7
Chapter 2: Learn to Schedule Tasks The “Right” Way ...... 13
Chapter 3: How to Apply the “Right” System to Your Life 20
Chapter 4: Keeping Your Priorities Straight ...................... 26
References .......................................................................... 30
 GETTING THE RIGHT THINGS DONE

Introduction

roductivity is a hot topic these days. We’re all

P feeling the stress of having too much to do and not
enough time to do it. But even though we’re busier than
ever, how productive are we as a society?

Many of us work a 40-hour workweek, broken down

into five 8-hour days. Yet, research shows that in any
given 8-hour workday, just under three hours of it is
actually used productively. We waste a lot of time on
pointless meetings that could have been an email, social
media scrolling, daydreaming, and getting distracted by
co-workers.

On top of all those things that take precious time

away from our productivity, our brains just aren’t
designed to be productive for eight hours at a time. Some
research suggests that humans are naturally inclined to
only perform about an hour of productive work in the
morning and an hour in the afternoon. When that time is

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taken up doing things that don’t matter, it can be

challenging to get anything done.

These statistics make sense to me. I’m a master

procrastinator. I perform my best when I’m under
pressure. If a teacher gave me two weeks to do an
assignment, you’d better believe I’m starting it the night
before. That mentality has lasted my whole life,
including into adulthood.

So, Why Am I Writing a Book on Productivity?

That’s a great question. I’m a busy entrepreneur who
has been in business for over four years. In the
beginning, I struggled to take care of myself. I found
myself working 18-hour days, seven days a week. After
doing that for almost two years, I realized I needed to
make a change if I wanted to get back to enjoying my
life.

After a few years of working for myself, I found ways

to automate parts of my business. This allowed me to
make time for myself and my family. I realized that
nobody else was going to take care of my health and
priorities. I needed to be the one to prioritize the things
that mattered the most to me.

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My story might resonate with you, as it does with so

many people I have met. I know a lot of entrepreneurs
and ambitious people who get lost in their work. They
push their personal lives to the side, thinking that “if I
just get through this week, I’ll have more time.” Then
one week turns into two weeks, and before you know it,
you’ve spent years of your life working without actually
accomplishing anything.

That type of mentality is only going to hurt you in the

long run. The amount of time you have to spend on this
Earth, with the people you care about, is limited. It’s
important to cherish every moment you get and to
prioritize the people and things you love just as much as
(if not more than) your professional career.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I don’t endorse putting

effort into your work. Many people find satisfaction in
their professional lives. I run a couple of successful
companies, and I love helping other entrepreneurs work
toward their dreams. My goal is to find ways to get more
satisfaction out of work. It doesn’t make sense for us to
waste time on things that don’t matter in the long run.

Even though I know I’m a procrastinator, I know that

my natural inclination to put things off isn’t the best way

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to get things done. From my research and personal

experience, I have formulated a productivity system that
allows me to prioritize and schedule tasks in a way that
means I get stuff done without stressing. No more last-
minute tasks, no more letting work get in the way of the
things I love. Just clarity and a plan so I can get stuff
done and get on with my life.

I have read a lot of books on productivity. Although

they contained some helpful nuggets, I found myself
wondering why authors spent 300 pages writing
something that could have easily been condensed into a
book this size. Shouldn’t I be spending more time
putting a system in place than reading about someone
else’s experience with it?

That’s why this book is formatted the way it is. It’s

short on purpose because I know you have a lot of other
things to do. I’m going to give you the information you
need to put your own plan into place. That’s it. I’ll
provide the tools, and then it’s up to you to do the work.
A Brief Introduction to the “Right” System
My system is simple. It doesn’t require a lot of tools
or a degree in technology to understand (although I will
recommend that you download an app; more on that

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later). The goal of the “Right” System is to free yourself

from doing all those things that slow you down and don’t
add anything to your personal or professional happiness
or goals.

Once you have put my system into place, you will

notice an almost immediate difference. It’s liberating to
only focus on the things that need to get done instead of
wasting time on stuff that doesn’t matter.

I call this system The “Right” System because it’s right

for me. There are so many other systems out there that
claim to be “the one.” Mine frees up your time so you can
do all the things that are right for you. I’m not just talking
about being productive at work (although that is
undoubtedly important). I’m talking about making sure
that you have the time you need to spend with your family,
pursue your hobbies, get enough rest, and enjoy all the
other non-work parts of your life.
This system is designed for people who:

• Wear a lot of hats personally and professionally.

• Have a hard time finishing a project once it’s
started.
• Find it challenging to figure out which task to start
first.
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• Are sleep-deprived because they feel like they

need to always be working.
• Feel overwhelmed and stressed because there are
never enough hours in the day.
• Want to spend more time doing things that matter
and less time on the things that don’t.

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, you’re in the

right place. Let’s get started.

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 GETTING THE RIGHT THINGS DONE

Chapter 1

What are the “Right Things?”

he “Right” System is about only getting the right

T things done. What those “right” things are will
depend on your priorities. You will need to decide which
items need to get done and which are unimportant.

The idea that some things on your to-do list are not
necessary can feel wrong at first, especially if you’re the
type of person who says “yes” to everything in all
aspects of your life. My system isn’t going to discourage
you from pursuing a variety of activities. I think it’s
great for you to have more than one thing going on in
your life at a time.

The problem is that we often get bogged down in all

those little tasks that we think need to be done. In reality,
many of those tasks don’t add any value to our lives and
could easily be eliminated. Once you identify and
eliminate things that don’t add value to your life, you

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will have more free time to spend on your hobbies, with

your family, or on work projects that will help you reach
your goals.

How to Know What’s “Right”

So, how do you figure out what is and isn’t right? It
starts by giving yourself space to think about this
question. Our lives are busy. We’re often too busy to
slow down and notice what is helping us pursue our
goals and what is holding us back.

With The “Right” System, you’ll be able to take a

step back and analyze your tasks to determine what does
and does not need to be done.

Here are a few fundamental beliefs you will need to

accept to pursue The “Right” System.

You can do more with less

We’re so used to multitasking and taking on a heavy
workload that we don’t realize how much more stress we
add to our lives. You can do so much more when you
have fewer things on your plate. When you can really
focus on one thing instead of trying to do 10 things at
once, you will move further ahead and make
significantly more progress.

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Breaks are essential for productivity

Our brains are not hardwired to be productive at all
times. We need to give ourselves breaks to de-stress and
recharge. Research has shown that our brains process
information and make connections when we enjoy what
they call wakeful rest. That’s why so many people say
they get their best ideas in the shower or while they’re
driving. When you aren’t explicitly focused on a task,
your brain has room to make connections that will help
you move forward with whatever project or task you are
working on.

Sleep is not an option—it’s a necessity

When you start removing tasks from your to-do list,
make sure sleep is not one of them. Sleep should be
something you prioritize. Your body needs to be fully
rested if you want to perform at a high level. Prioritize
and protect sleep when you create your schedule.
Know what success looks like
With The “Right” Plan, you will be able to put
yourself on a path to success. Before you get too far,
though, you need to know what success looks like to
you. How will you know when you have reached your
goal? It could be a tangible outcome, like finishing a

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major project ahead of schedule. It could also be

something like having more time to enjoy with your
family or being able to shut down your computer with
plenty of time to relax and sleep.

Learn to say no
This is a significant mind shift for many people. In
order to say “yes” to your priorities, you need to say “no”
to anything that will get in your way. Saying “yes” to
everything will add more stress and lower the quality of
your work. Your work becomes devalued when you say
“yes” to everything because you cannot focus on doing
any one thing exceptionally well. At best, you start to
perform everything at a mediocre level.

The Art of Saying No

I realize that it can be difficult to say “no” to people.
You don’t want to disappoint your family, friends, co-
workers, or boss. But it’s critical to remember that you
do not want to disappoint yourself either. You should
prioritize yourself over everyone else when it comes to
saying “yes” or “no.”

Try these tactics when you are approached about

something you don’t want to do.

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Be non-confrontational
Saying “no” doesn’t have to be rude. Find a way to say
“no” that works within your comfort level. If your co-
worker invites you out for dinner, but you’d prefer to go
home and chill with your family, it’s perfectly fine to say
something like, “I’d love to, but I’ve had a long week and
haven’t seen my family as much as I’d like to.” If you
genuinely would like to go out for dinner some other time,
you can add something like, “Another week might work
better, so please ask me next time.”

Think on it
Very few decisions need to be made immediately.
Saying “let me get back to you” gives you time to think
about the request. It also shows the person making the
request that you are giving it careful thought. Then, you
can say, “I have reviewed my schedule, and I’m not able
to meet your request at this time.”
Accept on conditions
Bosses love to pile projects on top of projects, often
without considering (or caring) how much we already
have on our plates. The next time your boss gives you a
significant project and tells you to prioritize it, try a
conditional yes. Say something like, “I will get to work

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on this right away. Let me know which of my other tasks

I should take off my plate to make room for this project.”
Be forward
Once you get used to saying no, it will become easier.
Instead of making excuses, you will be able to directly
say, “no, I can’t do that,” no explanation needed.
How to Feel OK Saying No
If you are used to saying “yes” to everything, then
saying “no” will feel a little weird at first. However, I
promise that the worst-case scenarios you are playing in
your head about what will happen when you turn down
that dinner invite or tell your boss that you don’t have
time to take on a new project will not turn out like you
are anticipating.
People tend to equate saying “no” with being rude. I
would argue that the opposite is true. By being true to
yourself and saying “no” to the tasks, events, and people
in your life that don’t add any value, you free up time to
say “yes” to everything that matters. That leaves more
room for the people and projects you care about. Saying
“no” doesn’t mean giving things up. It means embracing
the things that matter most and protecting your time so that
you can pursue them.

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Chapter 2

Learn to Schedule Tasks The “Right” Way

B y now, you should have a

understanding of which of your
“right” ones to prioritize. Now, let’s get
more precise
tasks are the
your to-do list
ready so that you can tackle those tasks without
worrying about everything else.

My plan has several steps that will help you focus on

the “right” things. Don’t be intimidated by the number
of steps. These are all baby steps that will add up to
increased productivity and more time in your day.

I highly recommend downloading and using the app

Focus to Do for this process. It’s free and works on all
of your devices, so you can easily add or remove tasks
on the go. You can upgrade for less than $10 to get even
more cool features. Some alternative apps are Google
Tasks and Todoist but I personally prefer the one
previously mentioned.

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The “Right” 10-Step Process

The best way to follow this process is by
downloading the Focus to Do app and diving in. Once
you have that app downloaded, go ahead and begin with
step one, then work your way down. The entire process
will only take a few minutes to complete. By the end,
you will have clarity and be ready to take on the day.

1. Make a list of all your projects

I’m calling any significant aspect of your life a
project. So, you’ll have one list for work, one for family,
one for college, one for hobbies, etc. If there’s an aspect
of your life that is important to you, add it as a project.

2. List every task for every project

Do a brain dump and list every single thing that’s on
your mind for each project. This includes upcoming tasks
along with things you want to do and ideas you have had.
For example, your “family” project could consist of “make
dinner” along with “figure out where to go on vacation this
summer.” Nothing is off-limits.

3. Keep the essentials

Review each task list carefully, looking only for
those that are necessary. These are tasks you absolutely
must complete. Then, eliminate everything else. You
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should have reduced your task lists significantly by now.

4. Figure out what needs immediate action

Narrow your essentials list down even further by
deciding which tasks need immediate action (such as
making dinner) and which ones don’t (e.g., figuring out
your vacation that will take place 10 months from now).
Put all the non-actionable tasks into a “someday list” or
schedule a date on your calendar for when you will
complete it. You can also create a notes folder in Focus
To Do for any non-actionable, non-essential tasks that
you can reference later.

5. Do the easy stuff first

Now, it’s time to get to work. Start with things that
take less than five minutes to do, like answering an email
or responding to a text. Doing these things immediately
will start building momentum as you check items off
your to-do list. Knocking off the smallest tasks first will
help you get into deep focus later so you can knock down
the bigger tasks on your list.

6. Break large tasks into smaller steps

For tasks that require more than one step, ask
yourself, “what is my desired outcome?” Then, break
that task into milestones or sub-tasks that will move
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toward that outcome.

7. Delegate what you can

See which tasks you can hand over to someone else.
Do you need to pick up the groceries, or could you send
your spouse out to get them? Can you delegate a portion
of your work project to a teammate or the new intern?
Delegate anything you can to free up more time for your
essential tasks.

8. Create calendar events

Embrace the power of your calendar by adding due
dates. That way, you’ll never miss an important deadline
or date, such as a birthday.

9. Organize your tasks

Now, decide what’s due today and what can wait
until tomorrow. Prioritize your tasks so that you get the
most essential one(s) done first. Don’t say “yes” to
anything new until these tasks have been completed.

10. Repeat
This system works as long as you stick with it. You
should always plan for tomorrow today. Look at your to-
do list for tomorrow before you go to bed tonight, and
review it first thing in the morning, so you have clarity on

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what your day looks like. Every week, organize your to-
do list following this process so that you can appropriately
prioritize your life.

Troubleshooting
A common challenge people face is putting too many
things on their to-do list. Ideally, you will work as an
essentialist to whittle your to-do list down to only the
most critical items. However, it is possible to get to the
end of a day and have a dozen or more things staring
back at you.

If you bombard yourself with too many things, you will

overwhelm yourself. As humans, we are terrible at
estimating how long a task will take us. We usually
underestimate, thinking we can get significantly more
done in a day than is actually possible. This optimism can
leave us with a lot left on our list at the end of the day.
Move those things to tomorrow. If they don’t need to get
done tomorrow, schedule them for another day. End
your day with a clean list.

By prioritizing your list so that the essential items are

first, you should get all of the most important things
done, even if you don’t get everything done in a day. In
time, you will get better at estimating how long specific

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tasks will take. You will also find that you have more
time than usual, now that you have removed all the non-
necessary items from your list.

Be patient with yourself as you go through this

process. By practicing these steps daily, you will soon
understand what the “right” tasks are for you and how
long you should expect them to take.

Follow the Five-Second Rule for Success

Once you get into a rhythm of following the process
outlined above, you might have a hard time not using it.
Re-organize your to-do list every day and week so that you
always have clarity about what you will be doing on any
given day.

Sometimes, the hardest part of achieving your goals

is getting started. Even the most well-organized to-do
list only works if you actually start working on tasks.
The five-second rule can be a game-changer, especially
on days when you are feeling unmotivated.

Our brains give us about five seconds to act on an

idea before it kills the idea. So, you have to act within
those five seconds of first having an idea. Otherwise,
you will never get anything done. If you promise

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yourself that you will count down from five and always
act when you get to one, you will take action. This works
for everything from getting out of bed in the morning to
working out to making an important business decision.
Mel Robbins has a TED Talk on this topic you can watch
for more inspiration on this topic.

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Chapter 3

How to Apply the “Right”

System to Your Life

O ther productivity books and systems want to help

you be more productive at work. While this can be
helpful, there’s more to life than work. I created this
system because I needed help making sure I’m
maximizing my time outside of work just as much as at
work.

That’s why The “Right” System is designed to help

you with work, family, hobbies, and everything else you
have going on in your life. I started using the Focus To
Do app on my own to make sure I was giving my family
the time they deserve from me.

Some people might be put off by the thought of

eliminating tasks from their to-do lists. I challenge you
to reframe your thinking. Don’t see my system as a way
to cut things out of your life. Instead, view it as a way to

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ensure that you have enough time in your day for every
aspect of your life, not just work.

In this chapter, we’ll talk about how to apply The

“Right” System to every aspect of your life.

Apply the “Right” System to Work

Like other productivity tools, The “Right” System
can be beneficial at work. Use this system to get the most
out of your workday. Say “no” to meetings that will only
distract you instead of help you move forward. Let your
boss know when you have too many things on your
plate. Prioritize your tasks so that you focus on the things
that matter the most.

By following this system, you will be able to finish

work-related projects faster and better. You will reduce
distractions and focus on the things that matter the most.
You will also be better able to delegate tasks to other team
members. By starting your day with all of your quick five-
minutes-or-less tasks, you will also stop procrastinating
and be more beneficial to your team members and the
company as a whole.

If you are a leader, I encourage you to teach others

within your organization how to follow The “Right”
System. You can all benefit from each other’s newfound
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productivity.

Apply the “Right” System to the Rest of Your Life

I don’t want to spend my life working on stuff that
doesn’t make me happy. I want to prioritize time with
my family and friends just as much as my work. The
“Right” System helps me do that by ensuring that I am
spending my time in a way that maximizes my free time.
That includes leaving time for play, whether that’s
reading, playing video games, or just hanging out with
family and friends.

I like the Focus To Do app because I can add new

tasks when I think of them. That way, when I make a
commitment to my family, I can add it to my list and
ensure that it’s prioritized. This has helped me find the
balance I need in my life between work, play, and
family. I have created stronger ties because of it. If you
are struggling to balance work and family, you will be
amazed at the results you experience when you try this
method.
Tricks to Stick with It
You might be tempted to ignore the system from time
to time, especially during stressful times or when you are
just getting started. Unfortunately, when you are stressed

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out is the worst time to ignore the system—that’s when

you will end up overloading your to-do list if you aren’t
paying attention.

Follow these tips to stick with the plan and stay on

track.

Practice temptation bundling

Remember when you were a kid, and you would get a
toy after being good at the dentist? Temptation bundling
works the same way. You reward yourself for doing
something that you don’t want to do. For example, if you
don’t enjoy planning out your day or week on the Focus
To Do app, add something that makes it fun. Head to your
favorite cafe and order a latte while you plan your week,
or create a playlist with your favorite bands that you listen
to as you plan. Finding ways to make unattractive tasks
enjoyable encourages you to stick with them.
Add buffer time
Always assume tasks will take longer than you expect.
Buffering time helps keep you on track and prevents you
from getting to the end of the week with a mile-long to-do
list still intact. If you surprise yourself and complete your
daily list early, reward yourself or move something from
tomorrow’s list over to today.

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Think of your time and energy as finite costs

Stop thinking of yourself as some sort of machine
that is programmed to do everything that is asked of it.
Start thinking of your time and energy as finite costs.
Allocate them wisely. You only have so much time in a
day to spend on tasks. Which ones bring you the most
value?

Reframe how you view productivity

Our society seems to praise being busy. But being
busy is not the same as being productive. I can be going
from sunrise to sunset, but that doesn’t mean I’m doing
anything meaningful. I can also spend two hours hyper-
focused on a project and make significant progress. Stop
focusing on being busy. Start focusing on getting the
most out of each moment.

Out of sight, out of mind

I find freedom in my to-do list because I know
exactly what I’m supposed to do. If something’s not on
my to-do list, it’s not in my life. Sticking to a routine and
to-do list provides me clarity and helps me stay
organized. I make time for family, friends, hobbies, and,
of course, sleep. I don’t worry about the things that
aren’t on my list because they aren’t important to me.

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Chapter 4

Keeping Your Priorities Straight

t’s easy for me to tell you to prioritize your tasks. But

I how do you determine which tasks are the most
urgent when everything feels like it needs to be done
right now? Even more critical, how do you decide which
tasks are important to your goals and which ones are
only serving to get in your way?

A dilemma like this is where the final section of my

flow chart can come in handy. This last step forces you
to consider which tasks need to be done now, which ones
can wait, which ones can be delegated, and which ones
can be deleted.

For each task, consider whether it is urgent or not

urgent. Then, decide if it’s important or not important.
Anything that is urgent and important needs to get done
today. Put it at the top of your to-do list. Anything that is
not urgent but important needs to be scheduled for later.

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Put it on your calendar so you don’t forget about it

altogether. Finally, anything that is urgent but not
necessary can be delegated. If you are unable to delegate
it, then prioritize it on your to-do list.

Final Takeaways
I know I’ve given you a lot of information in this short
book. If you have skimmed through it to the end or are
feeling a little lost, here are a few things I want you to
remember.
1. Saying no = freedom
Start saying no to anything that does not add value to
your life professionally or personally. Use the tips in
chapter two to gracefully say no to people until you get
comfortable enough being direct.

2. Always plan the night before

Take a few minutes at the end of the day to go
through my 10-step process. This way, you’ll wake up
with a clear idea of what your day looks like. You’ll
know what you need to tackle immediately, and you can
start knocking quick tasks off your to-do list to build
momentum.

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3. Don’t procrastinate on quick tasks

Things that take less than five minutes to complete
can quickly eat away at your day if you don’t act on
them. Start your day by doing all of those quick tasks. In
addition to moving things forward, you’ll start the day
off by quickly checking things off your to-do list. This
can be especially helpful for anyone who feels
overwhelmed when they see the size of their to-do list.

4. Stick with it
In order for the system to work, you need to use it
consistently. I get that life happens. If you miss a day or
two of following The “Right” System, it’s easy to get
back on track. Follow the 10 steps listed in chapter 2 to
re-organize your day and week.

5. Remember that being busy is not the same as being

productive
Some people panic when their to-do list only has a
few items, especially if they are used to fulfilling a ton
of small tasks throughout the day. Don’t feel bad!
Ideally, your to-do list will be short. You can be
extremely productive when you have the time and space
to only focus on a few important things. In fact, studies
have shown that people who multitask lose 40 percent of

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their productivity because they lose so much time

switching from one task to another.
Apply The “Right” System to Your Life
Now that you know what The “Right” System is and
how to use it, you are ready to apply it to your life.
Download the To Do app now to get started.

I don’t want our discussion to end here. I’d love to

hear about how this system works for you and the ways
it has impacted your life. Share your story on Instagram
and tag me, @samirkahlot, for a chance to be featured
on my page!

I encourage you to share this book with your friends,

family members, co-workers, and anyone else you know
who is looking for ways to find more fulfillment and
enjoyment out of their life.

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References

Barnes, C. M. (2015, January 28). The ideal work schedule,

as determined by circadian rhythms. Retrieved February 11,
2021, from
https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-ideal-work-schedule-as-
determined-by-circadian-rhythms

Ltd, I. (n.d.). How many productive hours in a workday?

Just 2 hours, 23 Minutes. Retrieved February 11, 2021,
from
https://www.vouchercloud.com/resources/office-worker-
productivity

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, J. (2012, June 29). Rest is Not

IDLENESS: Implications of the Brain’s default mode for
human development and education - Mary Helen
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