Eisenhower got Q2 and Q1 exactly backwards

nekolucifer

Nov 05, 2026

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There are things we all want to get done someday.

Or does “someday” recede into the distance forever, like the horizon you can never reach?

What just came into your mind? How long have you been putting that thing off?

When will it ever be urgent for me to make a map of my ancestors graves, for future generations? When will it ever be urgent to visit distant relatives? To work on that cool project I’ve been thinking about for 15 years? To visit that old friend?

It’s never urgent, but it is important. It is to me.

Eisenhower called this category Q2. Important, but not Urgent. Notably, his Q2 comes after Q1, Important and Urgent.

I say this is completely backwards! If it’s urgent, it demands your attention, by definition.

It practically does itself. Life forces you to deal with it! Q1 requires no special treatment!

If you don’t ensure that Q2 gets done... it simply won’t.

This is the Regret Maximization quadrant. You can put it off forever. Life makes it so easy.

And if you do, you will sorely regret it.

And as they say, first things first. I put mine right at the front.

The day will do itself. But “someday”... we must do it now.

If it cannot be done now, then schedule it. Make someday mean some day, not no day.

That’s what your calendar is for! To remind you of what you must, sure, but much more: to allow you to do what you want.

If not... then one day, it will be too late.