The Ivy Lee Method for productivity

If your to-do list looks like a CVS receipt, here’s a cure. The Ivy Lee Method is over 100 years old, yet top CEOs still use it today. It’s dead simple and stupid effective.

Marketing analysis

The visual breaks down productivity into five baby steps. That simplicity is the marketing magic here. No jargon. No apps. Just a five-line checklist that promises clarity. The gradient background and icons make it feel fresh and modern, turning an old-school method into something worth sharing.

Why it works

• Forces prioritization with only six tasks
• Reduces decision fatigue
• Builds momentum through daily repetition
• Visual design makes it “easy to try” and “worthy to share”
• Aligns with behavioral psychology: fewer choices = better focus

Examples

• Charles Schwab reportedly paid Ivy Lee the equivalent of $400,000 for this advice.
• James Clear touts it as one of the simplest productivity methods ever.
• Motion uses it in their planning templates to sell their task software.