To produce significant long-term results, every real estate manager must learn to outsmart the urgent tasks that attempt to steal away their time and energy. Years ago, Peter Drucker offered a formula to help managers become effective in this regard. The first two components involved controlling where your time goes and making measurable contributions. The next component of his formula suggested establishing and focusing on a small set of priorities. Once the priorities are established (and documented), it sets you free to: Do first things first. This is the secret of not letting the short-term and urgent tasks rule your life. Schedule time for your priorities; tenaciously follow-through on the commitments to yourself. Do one thing at a time. This is the secret of not letting distractions wreck your effectiveness. When you’re focused on one of your priorities, everything else must be tuned out. A decision has to be made as to which tasks deserve priority.The only question is who will make the decision – you or the pressures around you.