Get the Right Stuff Done – Learn the Powerful ‘Sort and Stack’ Method

 

What’s on your “to do” list?

 

If you don’t have a written list, take a few moments now to write down everything that you want to get done. Get it out of your mind and onto a piece of paper.

Now look at your list. I’m willing to bet the items are quite varied — from simple errands like “pick up the dry cleaning” to more complex projects such as “draft a budget for the kitchen remodel.”
You may also feel your list is a mile long and impossible to finish.

You are right. And you’re not alone.

This comes up frequently in the life-transition coaching I do with clients. With so much competing for attention, deciding where to begin can feel overwhelming.

Prioritization becomes far easier when attention shifts to the

Big Rocks first.

 

The Big Rocks are the 20% of effort that create 80% of the results.

So the real question becomes:
What are your Big Rocks?
Which 20% truly matters?

 

A Simple Two-Step Process: Sort and Stack

A teacher once told me that most people cannot effectively think about more than five things at a time.
People in transition — or building a business — often have far more than that competing for attention.

To help cut through the noise, I teach a simple method called Sort and Stack.

 

Step 1: Sort

Take your full list and sort each item into one of three categories:
High, Medium, or Low priority.

Ask yourself:
“When I think about what I want to create in my life, how important is it that this gets done?”

 

Trust your first instinct — don’t overthink it.

When finished, set the Medium and Low lists aside.
Only the High-priority list moves forward.

 

 

Step 2: Stack

Now rank your High-priority items using the matched-pairs method.

Compare two items at a time and ask:
Which one would make the greater impact if completed?

Mark the more important item.
Repeat until all items have been compared.

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Finally, reorder the list from most to least marks.

You now have a prioritized list of your Big Rocks — the 20% that truly moves your life forward.

Applications of the Sort and Stack Method

 

This method can be applied to business planning, life transitions, family decisions, values clarification, goal-setting, and more.

It replaces overwhelm with clarity — shifting focus from trying to do everything to doing what truly matters.

Now it’s your turn.

What do you find most difficult about taking action?

Do you have a clear set of prioritized action steps?

How might focusing on the 20% help you move forward more effectively?