Time Blocking: The Most Powerful Habit for Extraordinary Productivity

When people ask how to achieve extraordinary results, the answer isn’t more apps, more hustle, or more caffeine.

It’s focus.

And the best way to achieve it? Time Blocking.

Gary Keller and Jay Papasan’s The ONE Thing says it simply: “Live for productivity, not busyness.”
Most of us live by our to-do lists. The most productive leaders live by their calendar — and they block their most important work first.

Why Time Blocking Works

Every person has the same 24 hours.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is how you use them.

Productive people spend their time differently:
They identify their ONE Thing — the single activity that makes everything else easier or unnecessary — and they defend that time like their business depends on it.
Because it does.

Alexander Graham Bell put it best:

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

That’s what time blocking does.
It brings your focus — and your results — to a burning point.

The $10,000 vs $1,000,000 Time System

Gary Keller often asks audiences:

“If everyone has the same amount of time, why do some people earn more and achieve more than others?”

His answer:

“They’re using a higher-value time management system.

Are you using a $10,000-a-year system or a $1,000,000-a-year system?

Your income (and your impact) are simply reflections of how well you protect and invest your time.

The 3 Time Blocks for Extraordinary Results

Keller recommends blocking three things — in this order:

1. Time Off

   Rest is not a reward; it’s a strategic investment in clarity, creativity, and endurance.

2. Your ONE Thing

   Block the time for your most leveraged activity — the one that moves the needle. Treat it as sacred. No meetings, no emails, no distractions.

3. Planning Time

   End each week reviewing your progress, refining your priorities, and preparing for the next.

This rhythm transforms productivity from accidental to intentional.

How to Start Time Blocking Today

1. Open your calendar.
2. Block a 90-minute window for your most important work — ideally in the morning.
3. Protect it fiercely. No interruptions, no multitasking.
4. Repeat it daily. Watch what happens.

Time blocking isn’t about getting more done — it’s about getting the right things done.
It’s how great leaders create extraordinary results while everyone else stays “busy.”

If you’d like to explore how to build time-blocking discipline into your leadership rhythm?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.