HOW TO PRIORITISE WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS URGENT

If you’re building a business, you probably feel like everything is on fire. And that you’re the only one holding the hose.

Welcome to early-stage life.

When everything feels urgent, you lose the ability to focus. You jump from task to task, your to-do list never shrinks, and you end every day feeling behind. Sound familiar?

Here’s how to break things down and prioritise what actually matters:

1. Not everything is urgent

Start by being honest. What will actually break the business if it’s not done this week? What’s just uncomfortable to leave unfinished? Most things can wait. Very few things can’t.

2. Revenue comes first

If you’re unsure what to do next, ask: Will this make or save money? If the answer is no, it goes lower on the list. If the answer is yes, do it now. This is especially true if you’re pre-raise or close to running out of cash.

3. Don’t outsource your brain

Delegating is good. Abdicating is not. Just because someone else is doing it doesn’t mean you stop thinking about it. You’re still the one who has to make the big calls.

4. Get an outside perspective

If you can’t tell what’s most important, talk it through with someone who’s done this before. A mentor, advisor, or another founder. When you’re too close to something, everything feels equally urgent. It usually isn’t.

Final thoughts

If everything’s urgent, nothing is. You need to make space to work on the business, not just in it.

I work with founders to help them get clear on what matters, what can wait, and what to drop altogether. Because your time is your most valuable resource. Spend it like it matters.