Clarify commitments and next actions
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The idea in everyday life
Turn vague reminders into outcomes, next actions, waiting items, calendar events, references, or deliberate deletions.
Every captured item requires a decision: what is it, does it matter, and what happens next?
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Process each item once and decide whether to delete, defer, file, delegate, schedule, or convert it to a project and action.
- 2
Describe each project by what finished looks like. For its next task, name the action, what it applies to, and any place or tool needed.
- 3
Track delegated work with owner, requested result, date, and next follow-up.
- 4
Store reference separately from actions so documents do not masquerade as work.
See how it works.
Imani changes “presentation” into “leadership approves five-slide budget recommendation” and sets the next action to request Finance’s updated forecast.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a clarified master list of projects, next actions, waiting items, calendar commitments, and reference links.
- Check this common mistake: Keeping entries such as taxes, website, or call Mom that still require another planning decision before action.
- Every active item has a known desired result, next step, owner, or specific future review point.
What to finish
A clarified master list of projects, next actions, waiting items, calendar commitments, and reference links.
Watch for this
Keeping entries such as taxes, website, or call Mom that still require another planning decision before action.
How can I tell I understand it?
Every active item has a known desired result, next step, owner, or specific future review point.
Quick knowledge check
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Cal Newport's Planning System
From Cal Newport. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
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