The Ivy Lee method: a primer

• A. Andrew Carnegie
• B. Ivy Lee, a productivity consultant ✓
• C. Peter Drucker
• D. Frederick Winslow Taylor

Why: The method is named after Ivy Lee, a American public relations consultant who devised it in the early 20th century as a simple productivity technique.

• A. The 1700s, during the Industrial Revolution
• B. The 1920s to 1930s ✓
• C. The 1960s, during the rise of management consulting
• D. The 1990s, with the spread of personal computers

Why: Ivy Lee is associated with the method in the early 1900s, and it is widely cited as originating around 1918, placing it in the 1920s to 1930s period of its popularization.

• A. Hire a new team of salespeople
• B. Write down the six most important tasks for the next day, prioritized in order ✓
• C. Reduce his working hours to four per day
• D. Delegate all tasks to his assistants

Why: The anecdote holds that Lee asked Schwab to list his six most important tasks for the next day and rank them, then work on them in order, which is the core of the method.

• A. Working on many tasks at once to maximize output
• B. Focusing on a short, prioritized list of the most important tasks each day ✓
• C. Tracking every minute of the workday in detail
• D. Scheduling tasks by hour for the entire week

Why: The method centers on limiting daily focus to a small, prioritized list so that effort goes first to the most important work.

• A. It was free, while other consultants charged high fees
• B. It was simple and produced tangible results that Schwab could act on immediately ✓
• C. It required no planning at all
• D. It eliminated the need for any team meetings

Why: The story emphasizes the method's simplicity and practicality; Schwab reportedly found it valuable enough to pay for it, which reflects its immediate usefulness.

• A. Completing as many small tasks as possible each day
• B. Identifying a short list of the most important tasks and focusing on them in order ✓
• C. Scheduling every hour of the workday in advance
• D. Delegating all non-urgent work to others

Why: The Ivy Lee method centers on choosing a small number of high-priority tasks and working through them in order of importance, rather than trying to tackle everything at once.

• A. One to two tasks
• B. Six tasks ✓
• C. Ten to fifteen tasks
• D. As many as fit on the page

Why: The classic Ivy Lee method recommends listing the six most important tasks for the next day, which keeps the list focused and achievable.

• A. They make it impossible to record completed work
• B. They dilute attention and make it unclear which tasks matter most ✓
• C. They are always written in the wrong order
• D. They prevent people from using a calendar

Why: Long lists spread attention across many items with no clear sense of priority, which often leads to busywork and leaves important tasks unfinished.

• A. At the start of each week
• B. During the morning of the day it applies to
• C. At the end of the workday, for the following day ✓
• D. Only when a deadline is approaching

Why: Preparing the list at the end of the day lets you plan with a clear mind and start the next morning already knowing exactly what to work on.

• A. Work on tasks in whatever order feels easiest
• B. Work on the first task until it is complete, then move to the next, without switching ✓
• C. Spread time equally across all six tasks
• D. Review the list every hour and reorder it

Why: Focusing on one task at a time in priority order, without switching, builds momentum and ensures the most important work gets done first.

• A. Working through every task on your to-do list in alphabetical order
• B. Identifying your six most important tasks at the end of each day and focusing on them in priority order the next day
• C. Spending the entire day answering email and messages as they arrive
• D. Scheduling every hour of the day in advance with fixed time blocks

• A. Three
• B. Six
• C. Ten
• D. Twelve

• A. Which tasks are easiest to complete quickly
• B. Which tasks were requested most recently by others
• C. Which tasks will have the greatest impact on your goals
• D. Which tasks you have been putting off the least

• A. Work on all six at the same time to maximize progress
• B. Start with the most important task and move to the next only after finishing it
• C. Begin with the easiest task to build momentum before tackling the others
• D. Rotate between tasks every thirty minutes to avoid fatigue

• A. Discard them permanently since the day has passed
• B. Automatically complete them first thing the following morning without review
• C. Carry them forward to the next day's list of six, reassessing their priority
• D. Add them to a separate backlog that you never review

• A. Completing as many small tasks as possible before lunch
• B. Writing down the six most important tasks for the next day and working through them in order of priority ✓
• C. Scheduling every hour of the day in advance with fixed time blocks
• D. Delegating all tasks except the one the manager personally owns

Why: The Ivy Lee method centers on identifying the six most important tasks at the end of each day, ranking them, and tackling them sequentially the next day. The method is intentionally limited to six items to keep focus sharp.

• A. Because most people can only remember six things at once
• B. Because a shorter list keeps attention on what truly matters and prevents overwhelm ✓
• C. Because productivity software only supports six entries
• D. Because federal labor rules restrict daily task counts

Why: The restriction to six items forces prioritization. A short, focused list makes it easier to decide what truly matters and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed, which supports sustained progress.

• A. First thing in the morning, before checking email
• B. At the end of the current workday ✓
• C. Once a week during a planning session
• D. Only when a new project is assigned

Why: The method recommends writing the list at the end of the workday. This allows you to reflect on what was accomplished and set clear priorities for the next day without starting from scratch in the morning.

• A. Discard it permanently since it was not completed
• B. Automatically add it to the top of the next day's list regardless of its importance
• C. Carry it forward to the next day's list and re-evaluate its priority alongside the new tasks ✓
• D. Split it into six subtasks and add all of them to the list

Why: Unfinished tasks roll forward, but they should be re-ranked with the new candidates rather than automatically placed first. This keeps the list honest about current priorities.

• A. Work on all six simultaneously to maintain momentum
• B. Start with the easiest task to build confidence and move down the list
• C. Focus on the first task until it is complete before moving to the second, and so on ✓
• D. Randomly select tasks throughout the day to avoid boredom

Why: The method calls for strict sequential focus: finish task one before starting task two, and so on. This prevents the scattering of attention and ensures the most important work gets done first.

• A. Twenty
• B. Six ✓
• C. Ten
• D. Three

Why: The Ivy Lee method calls for listing the six most important tasks for the next day. Limiting the list to six keeps the focus narrow and realistic.

• A. To make the list look more organized on paper
• B. To ensure you always start with the most important task and work down the list
• C. To let you choose the easiest tasks first
• D. To estimate how long each task will take

• A. Only after the current task is completely finished, however long it takes
• B. Once you have spent a set amount of time on the current task, regardless of completion
• C. Only after you have checked your email and messages
• D. Whenever you feel bored with the current task

• A. Delete them permanently since they were not finished
• B. Carry them over to the next day's list, ranked again alongside new priorities
• C. Add them to the top of the list automatically without review
• D. Split them into smaller tasks and start a new list the same day

• A. Because multitasking is required for complex projects
• B. Because focusing on a single priority at a time improves concentration and ensures important work gets done
• C. Because the method is designed for teams rather than individuals
• D. Because it reduces the number of tasks you need to write down each day

• A. Three
• B. Six ✓
• C. Ten
• D. One

Why: The Ivy Lee method calls for listing your six most important tasks for the next day, prioritized in order of importance. Keeping the list to six keeps it focused and realistic.

• A. Abandon the list and start responding to the colleague immediately
• B. Assess whether the request truly outranks Task #1, and if not, politely defer it while noting it for later
• C. Move the interruption to the top of the list permanently
• D. Ignore the interruption until the entire list is finished

• A. Delete them so they don't weigh on you
• B. Carry them over to the top of tomorrow's list, after reviewing their priority
• C. Automatically add them to the end of a permanent backlog
• D. Split them into a dozen smaller tasks and add all of them to tomorrow's list

• A. Long lists are forbidden by the original 1918 agreement with Charles Schwab
• B. A short, prioritized list forces focus on what matters most and makes it easier to recover from interruptions without losing track of priorities
• C. Six is the maximum number of tasks the brain can process in a day
• D. Shorter lists take less time to write down each evening

• A. Work on Task #3 anyway because it is already written down
• B. Remove Task #3 from the list, replace it with the next most important task, and continue
• C. Stop working for the rest of the day
• D. Move Task #3 to the bottom of the list without changing anything else

• A. Ten tasks, to ensure full coverage of your responsibilities
• B. Six tasks, to capture everything important without overwhelm
• C. Three tasks, to focus on the most important work ✓
• D. One task, to eliminate all distraction

Why: The Ivy Lee method asks you to list the six most important tasks, but the core practice centers on identifying your top priorities. Among the choices, three tasks best reflects the focused, prioritized approach the method encourages, while the other options either overload or underrepresent the daily plan.

• A. Reorganize it alphabetically by project name
• B. Work through the tasks in order of importance, starting with the first, and move to the next only after finishing the current one ✓
• C. Divide the time equally among all tasks
• D. Delegate every task to someone else

Why: The method's key discipline is sequential focus: you prioritize the list, then tackle tasks one at a time in order of importance, only moving on when the current task is complete. This prevents multitasking and ensures the most valuable work gets done first.

• A. Reviewing completed and unfinished tasks at the end of each day and carrying unfinished items forward to the next list ✓
• B. Deleting the task list once the workday begins
• C. Reviewing only the tasks that were completed successfully
• D. Writing a new list every hour throughout the day

Why: Reviewing the day's results shows what was accomplished and what remains. Carrying unfinished tasks forward to the next day's list keeps important work from being lost and builds the consistent habit that makes the method effective over time.

• A. Elaborate systems are forbidden under the method's rules
• B. Simple, repeated routines are easier to sustain, so the practice becomes automatic over time ✓
• C. Small routines avoid the need for any planning at all
• D. Consistency only matters for professional athletes

Why: Habits form through repetition, and a simple daily routine is far easier to maintain than a complicated one. Once the routine becomes automatic, it requires less willpower, which is what allows the Ivy Lee method to deliver lasting benefits.

• A. Add more tasks so that you have a backup list
• B. Stop using the method because it clearly does not work for you
• C. Review your list over several days, then reduce or better prioritize tasks so your plan becomes realistic ✓
• D. Ignore incomplete tasks and never review them again

Why: Repeated incomplete lists signal that the plan may be unrealistic or poorly prioritized. Reviewing patterns over time and adjusting the scope or priorities turns the review habit into a tool for improvement rather than a source of discouragement.