"There's a tendency in marketing to solve every problem by doing more. Add another channel, spin up a new campaign, test five variations, hop into another meeting, spin up five more dashboards. Before long, you're not prioritizing, you're just reacting. I've been there more times than I'd like to admit. But a while back, I came across a question from Tim Ferriss (from his blog post " 17 Questions That Changed My Life ") that shifted how I think about work: "What if I could only subtract to solve problems?""
"Subtraction as a strategy Ferriss also poses this question: "If I could only work two hours weekly on my business, what would I do?" Now I don't work two hours a week (I wish), but the constraint is useful. It forces clarity and impact over volume. When time is tight, it guides focus on what matters and, more importantly, what doesn't. This is particularly important now, given the rapid adoption of AI and automation and the desire to do more. I'm not against being efficient, but the effort must be effective."
"What's a do-not-do list? It's exactly what it sounds like: a short list of tasks, habits or default reactions I've intentionally decided not to spend energy on-or at least only when it will truly be impactful. This isn't a productivity hack or some clever to-do list app. It's more of a mindset filter, something I revisit regularly to stay focused on the work that drives results."
Subtraction improves focus by removing nonessential tasks, channels, and habitual reactions that create reactionary busyness. Constraints force clarity and prioritize impact over sheer volume of activity. Limiting available time reveals the highest-leverage actions to preserve. The rise of AI and automation increases the temptation to do more, so efficiency must be matched with effectiveness. A do-not-do list records specific tasks, habits, and default responses to avoid unless they deliver clear impact. The do-not-do list acts as a mindset filter that is revisited regularly to maintain focus and reduce decision fatigue.
Read at MarTech
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]