In an era defined by constant connectivity and an endless stream of notifications, managing distractions has become a cornerstone of effective priority management. Without intentional strategies to curb interruptions, even the most carefully crafted to-do lists can unravel, leaving important tasks unfinished and stress levels elevated.

On June 2, 2025, we officially crossed a temporal threshold: we became closer to the year 2050 than to the year 2000. In that moment, the future we once relegated to science-fiction slid into striking proximity, while the dawn of the new millennium drifted into the rear view. Such a jolt can stir anxiety or excitement—but above all, it poses a vital question: if the remaining stretch of our journey is suddenly more than half lived, how will we honor the time we still have?

From Omaha’s Oracle to your own to-do list, Warren Buffett’s centuries-old hometown wisdom boils down to one principle: focus on what matters. His investment successes owe as much to ruthless priority management as to market insight.

In a world awash with endless to-dos, emails, meetings and distractions, productivity feels like a moving target. You start the day energized, only to find yourself swamped by lunchtime, inching forward on urgent tasks and kicking the big challenges down the road. Brian Tracy, a bestselling author and leadership coach, distilled decades of study into one no-nonsense mantra: “Eat that frog.” By tackling your toughest, highest-impact task first, you reclaim control of your schedule—and your success.

From plotting the Allied invasion of Normandy to overseeing a post-war superpower’s domestic agenda, Dwight D. Eisenhower excelled at steering massive undertakings. Behind every strategic triumph lay a deceptively simple principle: sort tasks by urgency and importance. Today, his “Eisenhower Matrix” guides millions of managers, entrepreneurs, and students worldwide. Here’s how Ike’s priority-management innovations took shape—and how you can adopt them.