Prioritize

Success doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by prioritizing the right actions at the right time. Whether in business, advocacy, or personal growth, leaders who achieve extraordinary results identify what matters most and focus their energy accordingly.

This lesson became clear to me while reading about some of history’s most influential figures—people like Bill Gates, J.D. Rockefeller, and Sam Walton. Each of them had a vision for the future they wanted to create. But vision alone wasn’t enough. They had to prioritize their efforts, execute in the right order, and maintain relentless focus on what would move the needle forward.

We can learn many lessons by reading about business titans. I did.

Bill Gates, for example, understood early in his career that software would be the foundation of the digital age. Instead of spreading himself thin across multiple ventures, he focused all his efforts on creating the best software possible. Gates made Microsoft the priority, ensuring that the company stayed ahead in the industry before expanding into other areas.

J.D. Rockefeller, on the other hand, revolutionized the oil industry by prioritizing efficiency. He didn’t just look at oil production—he saw the entire supply chain and realized that controlling refining was the key to maximizing profits. That singular focus allowed him to build Standard Oil into one of the most powerful companies in history.

And Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, prioritized customer experience and cost efficiency above all else. He obsessed over logistics, store placement, and supply chain management, ensuring that Walmart could deliver lower prices than any competitor. By sticking to this core priority, he built the world’s largest retailer.

Each of these leaders had big ideas, but their success wasn’t based on ideas alone. They prioritized their actions methodically and executed them with discipline.

Satoshi Nakamoto gave me a masterclass on the importance of setting priorities. He is the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. Satoshi visualized a decentralized, trustless currency that would revolutionize finance. Instead of just talking about the idea for Bitcoin, and hoping for the best, he took strategic, methodical steps to accelerate prospects for success of the Bitcoin idea, and spread mass adoption over time.

1. He wrote the Bitcoin White Paper – Before launching anything, he clearly articulated his vision in a structured document. The White Paper outlined why Bitcoin was necessary, how it worked, and what problems it solved.
2. He targeted the right audience first – Instead of trying to convince the general public, Satoshi shared the White Paper with cryptographers, mathematicians, and computer scientists—the people most likely to understand and appreciate the concept.
3. He launched the Bitcoin network – After refining his idea and building credibility within the technical community, he executed the next step by launching Bitcoin, allowing early adopters to mine and validate transactions.
4. He let adoption grow organically – Rather than forcing mass adoption, he allowed Bitcoin to prove itself over time, as more people recognized its potential.

By prioritizing each phase, Satoshi successfully introduced an entirely new financial system—one that continues to reshape the world today.

I use that same strategy as I try to spread ideas of prison reform. The system won’t change overnight. Instead, I am taking incremental, methodical steps, just as business leaders and innovators have done before me:

1. Laying the intellectual groundwork – I have spent years documenting my journey, writing books, and publishing content to help people understand the problems within our system.
2. Educating the right audience first – I am focusing on policy leaders, students, business professionals, and those directly impacted by the system, ensuring that the right people understand and support reform.
3. Building a network and a nonprofit – Through Prison Professors Charitable, I am creating scalable solutions that will influence the future of justice reform.
4. Executing in phases – Just as Satoshi launched Bitcoin in stages, I am using step-by-step advocacy efforts to push for policies that incentivize excellence and allow people to earn freedom through merit.

This work takes time. If I were to measure success by immediate, sweeping change, I would fail. By prioritizing the right efforts at the right time, I increase the likelihood of long-term success. The principle of prioritizing applies to anyone trying to improve in life.

• If you want to improve your finances, prioritize learning how to manage money, increase earning potential, and make sound investments.
• If you want to lose weight, prioritize a sustainable nutrition and exercise plan over quick fixes.
• If you want to build a business, prioritize delivering value before focusing on marketing or scaling.

“Most people spend more time on what is urgent and less time on what is important.”
– Stephen Covey

Prioritization is about focusing on the most important actions first, not just responding to whatever demands your attention in the moment. To succeed, we have to do the right things, at the right time. Every goal worth achieving requires a sequence of actions. If you can identify the critical first steps and execute them methodically, you will build unstoppable momentum.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
– James Clear, Atomic Habits

I encourage you to take a strategic approach to whatever challenge or ambition you’re facing. Define success. Identify the key priorities. Execute with discipline.

Self-Directed Learning Question:

• What are your top three priorities right now, and how are you ensuring that you focus on them rather than getting distracted by less important tasks?

‍