The top 1% understand that work always expands to fill the amount of time you make available to complete it.
In 1955, British historian C. Northcote Parkinson wrote that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Economists see the same pattern with roads: widen a highway and more drivers show up to fill the new lanes.
The same is true for work, hobbies, and school.
Work always expands to fill the amount of time you make available to complete it. For example, if there are six months available to complete a project, you’ll spend six months working on it. Give yourself only one month, however, and you’ll get the same amount of work done in one-sixth of the time.
The 80/20 Problem
Pareto adds a twist: extra time doesn’t just stretch the work, it fills with unimportant activity.
The Two-Hour Test
Ask yourself how you’d get tomorrow’s work done if you only had two hours. Then:
- Write down only two mission-critical items.
- Test them: would I be satisfied with my day if only these happened? What happens if they don’t?
- Finish both by 11 a.m. the next day.
- Don’t multitask.
For more on why busy isn’t the same as productive, read Busy Is Not the Same as Productive.
Framework: This post is part of Action Produces Data, the coaching framework for consistent production: take the next right action, track it and let the results, not opinions, guide what you do next.
Want help applying this in your brokerage? Book a 30-minute conversation with Mark at calendly.com/mjsession.
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