How to stop doing all of the things and start doing the right things
I didn’t realise until recently how much time I spend doing stuff and feeling super busy, but not actually feeling like I’ve achieved anything! If you’ve ever ended the day wondering where your time went, despite feeling hectic and rushed all day, just know that you’re not alone. However I have worked out that me and most entrepreneurs don’t have a time problem; they have a priority problem.
Generally we say yes to too much, juggle too many “good” ideas, and end up exhausted by the endless to-do list. The truth? Not everything deserves your energy.
In an effort to solve my own problem with this, I created The GOLD Filter, a ridiculously simple way to cut through the noise and focus only on the things that genuinely move your business forward. It’s not rocket science but sometimes you need someone to draw you a pretty picture and that’s what I’ve done!
So these are the steps you need to go through:
Step 1: Write Down Every Task You Think You “Have” to Do
Start with a big brain dump. Everything counts, from replying to emails and tweaking your website to launching your next big offer. It’s a lot easier to voice dictate this into your phone or into chatgpt.
Don’t edit. Don’t prioritise yet. Just get it all out of your head and onto ‘paper’.
Step 2: Run It Through the GOLD Filter
For each task, ask yourself these four questions:
G : Does it GROW my business?
Will this action bring in revenue, visibility, or opportunity? Growth tasks create forward momentum.
O : Does it OPTIMISE my effort?
Will it make life easier later? Think automations, systems, templates, anything that reduces future friction.
L : Does it LEVERAGE what’s already working?
Instead of reinventing the wheel, can you build on something that already brings results? That’s smart leverage.
D : Can I DITCH it because it doesn’t matter right now?
Be honest. Does this task truly need doing, or does it just make you feel productive or give you a distraction from the real work?
Step 3: Score all of your tasks
If your task ticks:
1 box → It’s a nice-to-do.
2 boxes → It’s a must-do.
3 boxes or more → That’s GOLD DUST. Prioritise it. Protect it. Do it first.
Anything that doesn’t hit at least one of those?
You guessed it, ditch it. It’s not a priority right now.
Step 4: Apply It Weekly
Use The GOLD Filter every week when planning your priorities.
Before you start anything new, run it through the questions again.
You’ll start noticing patterns.
You’ll realise how much time you were wasting on tasks that felt important but didn’t actually change anything and it’ll be like your manufacturing time! Sort of.
Why It Works
This works because it’s simple. There are no complicated systems, no productivity apps you’ll forget to open. Just the four questions that keep you anchored to what actually matters.
And when you stay focused on growth, optimisation, and leverage, you naturally create space for joy, creativity, and rest, because you’re no longer drowning in busywork… and who doesn’t want that?
Try It Yourself
Run your current to-do list through the GOLD Filter today.
Circle your gold dust tasks and make those your non-negotiables this week.
Because building a business isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things.
