I’d like to tell you how just sharing one simple idea earned a man $25,000 and how that idea can mean even more to you. This story has been told many times before. We may never know exactly what happened, but the important parts of what you are about to read are true. More importantly, the principle it contains can revolutionize your life. If you use what you are about to learn, you will begin getting more things done that you ever thought possible.

More Knowledge Isn’t Going To Help

The efficiency expert named Ivy Lee wrapped up his short presentation. He felt confident. After all, he had given the speech before and had found success. To top it off, he knew how badly this steel mill needed his help.

He stared the stone faced president in the eye. “Mr. Schwab, if you allow me the chance to help, I’ll teach you and your executives to manage better. You’ll know how…”

Schwab cut him off. “Look, Mr. Lee, I’m sure your services are great, but we don’t need them. We don’t need any more ‘knowing’ around here. I don’t manage as well as I know how to now.” He shook his head. “We already know what we should be doing. If you can just show us a way to get it done better, I’ll pay you anything you want.”

For a moment, Ivy was almost flustered. A lesser man would have turned tail and run. Ivy forced himself to remain cool and collected. After all, he had an idea.

Ivy took a step toward the the steel president’s desk. “What if I could give you something in the next 20 minutes that would raise your efficiency by 50%?”

Schwab raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. “Go on.”

The Idea

Lee smiled to himself. This was a good idea. He bent down and rifled through his briefcase for a moment, then pulled out a small piece of paper. He put it on the large desk and slid it toward Schwab.

Schwab looked slightly confused. He glanced up at Ivy Lee and then stared at the paper.

Lee took a half step back. “Do you see this piece of paper?”

Through a furrowed brow, Schwab looked up again. “Of course.”

“Take that paper and write down the six most important things you need to do tomorrow.”

Schwab thought for a couple of minutes and scribbled down six items. After he finished, he tossed his pen back onto the desk. “Now what?”

Lee folded his arms and looked down at the paper. “Now number them in order of importance.”

Schwab reached across the desk to grab the pen he had just flung. It only took a moment to put them in order. This time he laid the pen on top of the list.
He gave a nod. “There.”

Lee smiled again. “Now, tomorrow when you get to work, I want you to work on the first item until it is done. Distractions will arise. Ignore them. Work on number one until it is done. Then move on to number two, then when that’s also finished, number three, and so on. At the end of every day, make a new list. Don’t worry about the things that don’t get done. You will know you have been doing the most good possible for your company, and if you can’t get all items done using this method, you couldn’t get them done using any other system, either. Once you’ve had time to prove to yourself the value of this, have your people try it out as well. In fact, try it out as long as you like. Then, you can send me a check for whatever you think it is worth.”

The steel mill president stood up and extended a hand, but he looked lost in thought.

They shook hands and Lee left, confident his idea was a winner.

The Payoff

Several weeks later, Ivy Lee received a letter in which Schwab informed him that his list idea was the most profitable thing, from a money standpoint, that he had ever learned.

Enclosed in the letter was a check for $25,000.

It has since been said that this simple idea was largely responsible for helping the obscure steel mill grow to be one of the largest steel producers in the world.

In other words, to Bethlehem Steel, this idea was literally worth millions.

The Point

This idea can be worth the same to you. Give it a try.

Addendum

I wrote a little program to help you follow this “list the six most important things” idea. Check out the link.