Prioritize Like a Pro IC: The Science That Makes You Faster

Ship sooner with WSJF, WIP=1, and data-driven focus that survives real-world chaos

The day I stopped juggling six “quick” tasks at once and finished one high-value item end-to-end, two things happened. My stress dropped, and my throughput went up—permanently. That wasn’t a motivational poster moment; it was math, queuing theory, and a few decades of psychology landing on my desk at the same time. What follows is the playbook I wish I’d had years ago—built from operations science, well-replicated research, and the kind of scar tissue you only earn by shipping.

High-performing delivery isn’t a vibe; it’s measurable and it correlates with stronger organizational outcomes. You don’t control the whole org, but you absolutely control your personal flow. Treat your work like a tiny production system: items arrive, you select the next one, you work it, you finish. The science here is your friend.