You know, I’ve seen it a hundred times. The more you try to do, the less you actually accomplish. It’s a truth that hits you hardest when you’re buried in tasks but have nothing tangible to show for it.
Share Image Quote:
Table of Contents
Meaning
At its core, this is about the law of diminishing returns applied to your focus. It means that spreading your attention too thin across too many tasks guarantees that none of them get the deep focus they require to be completed well, or sometimes at all.
Explanation
Let me break it down for you. Our brains aren’t built for constant context-switching. Every time you jump from writing an email to answering a Slack message to starting a report, there’s a cognitive “switching cost.” You lose momentum. You have to re-orient yourself. And that mental tax adds up fast. So by the end of a day where you “tried to do” twenty things, you might have twenty things half-started, but nothing truly finished. The feeling of busyness is a complete illusion. The real progress happens when you single-task. When you define the next physical action on one thing and just… do that. Until it’s done. Then move on.
Quote Summary
Reading Level45
Aesthetic Score75
Origin & Factcheck
This wisdom comes straight from David Allen’s game-changing book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, which was first published in the United States back in 2001. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific, crisp phrasing is authentically his.
Attribution Summary
Author Bio
David Allen created the GTD methodology and helped millions organize work and life with clear, actionable steps. He began as a management consultant, refined GTD through client engagements, and published Getting Things Done in 2001, followed by Ready for Anything and Making It All Work. He founded the David Allen Company and expanded GTD training globally, later relocating to Amsterdam to support international growth. A sought-after speaker and advisor, he remains a leading voice on clarity, focus, and execution. Explore the David Allen book list for essential reads.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The more you try to do, the less you actually accomplish |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2001; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-0143126560; Last edition: Revised edition published 2015; Number of pages: 352. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 5: Organizing, Approximate page 102 (2015 edition) |
Context
In the book, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s the foundational argument for his entire GTD methodology. Allen introduces this concept right as he’s explaining why our traditional to-do lists fail us. They become overwhelming inventories of “stuff” that paralyze us instead of guiding us. This quote sets the stage for the solution: getting everything out of your head and into a trusted system.
Usage Examples
Honestly, I use this as a mantra. When I catch myself with fifteen browser tabs open, my email pinging, and my project management tool looking like a war zone, I stop and say, “Right. The more I try to do…” and I force myself to pick one thing. Just one. I tell my team this all the time. It’s perfect for:
- The Chronic Multitasker: The person who is always “busy” but whose projects are perpetually stuck at 90% complete.
- The Overwhelmed New Manager: Someone who feels they need to say yes to everything and supervise every detail, only to see their team’s overall output slow to a crawl.
- Any Creative Professional: Writers, designers, developers—we all need deep work. This quote is the perfect excuse to block off focus time and defend it fiercely.
To whom it appeals?
| Context | Attributes |
|---|
| Theme | Wisdom (1754) |
|---|
| Audiences | coaches (1277), entrepreneurs (1006), leaders (2619), managers (441), students (3111) |
|---|
| Usage Context/Scenario | corporate seminars (14), focus improvement talks (2), goal simplification sessions (1), personal efficiency programs (2), productivity workshops (13), team management discussions (1), time management lessons (2) |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share This Quote Image & Motivate
Motivation Score65
Popularity Score75
Shareability Score70
FAQ
Question: Does this mean I should only ever do one thing at a time?
Answer: Not exactly. It’s about focus, not total activity. You can have a load of laundry in the washer while you’re working—that’s fine. The problem is trying to write a complex proposal while simultaneously checking emails and planning your dinner. That’s the kind of “doing” that leads to “less accomplishing.”
Question: How is this different from just being lazy?
Answer: It’s the opposite of lazy! It’s about being strategically lazy, in a way. It’s about conserving your mental energy for the tasks that matter most, so you can apply massive force to them instead of a tiny, ineffective amount of force to everything. It’s working smarter, not harder.
Question: Can you give me a practical first step to applying this?
Answer: Sure. Right now, make a list of everything on your mind. Then, for the next hour, choose the one thing on that list that would make the biggest difference if it were completed. Close everything else. Your email, your chat apps. Everything. And just work on that one thing. See how it feels.
Similar Quotes
You know, “The goal isn’t to get more done” really flips the script on productivity. It’s not about speed, but about strategic elimination. Let’s break down why this mindset is…
You know, that “Do less, but do it better” idea from Tim Ferriss… it’s not about laziness. It’s about ruthless focus. It’s a framework for achieving more by intentionally choosing…
You know, “The harder you work, the luckier you get” is one of those lines that sounds simple but packs a real punch. It’s not about magic; it’s about creating…
Focus on doing less, but better is one of those game-changing principles that sounds simple but flips your entire approach to work and life. It’s about moving from being busy…
You know, the more you seek responsibility, the faster you advance isn’t just a nice saying. It’s a fundamental truth I’ve seen play out in every successful career I’ve watched.…
