Pick Wins That Count

Three rules for choosing your Big Wins:

• Specific and finishable. "Work on the proposal" never ends. "Finish the first draft of the proposal" can be ticked off.
• Important, not just loud. Urgent things shout; important things rarely do. Make sure at least one win is something that moves a real goal forward, not just the loudest item in your inbox.
• Realistic. Three wins you can actually land beat seven you can't.

Write them where you'll see them each morning. When the week turns chaotic, these three become your compass — and your reason to say no when something new tries to crowd them out.