As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where you want to take your creative journey. Whether you’re an artist, surface designer, or graphic designer, setting meaningful and achievable goals can propel your career forward. However, to set effective goals, it’s essential to differentiate between urgent tasks and important tasks and understand how they impact your progress.
Urgent vs. Important: A Crucial Distinction
Before diving into the framework for prioritizing tasks, let’s first understand the difference between urgent and important:
Urgent tasks: These demand your immediate attention but are not always critical to your long-term success. For example, replying to non-critical emails or managing unexpected requests.
Important tasks: These are activities that align with your goals and dreams, pushing you closer to your desired outcomes. For instance, designing a new product line or creating a portfolio for licensing opportunities.
To achieve lasting success, focus on the important rather than getting caught up in the urgent. This mindset will help you build a sustainable creative career.
The Four DOs: A Framework for Prioritization
To stay on track with your goals, use the Four DOs to evaluate and prioritize your tasks effectively:
1. Can Do
These are tasks that can be done, but they are neither urgent nor important.
Examples: Organizing your workspace or experimenting with a new design technique.
Action: Schedule these tasks for downtime or when you have spare capacity. They can be beneficial but shouldn’t distract you from more pressing priorities.
2. Could Do
These are tasks that you could do, but they are not critical to your immediate goals.
Examples: Attending optional webinars or participating in casual networking events.
Action: Assess whether these tasks align with your long-term vision. If they do, allocate time to them later; if not, consider skipping them altogether.
3. Would Do
These are tasks that are essential, but not highly urgent.
Examples: Planning your social media strategy, updating your website portfolio, or sketching ideas for future projects.
Action: Prioritize these tasks and set deadlines to ensure they are completed. They form the backbone of your progress but don’t require immediate attention.
4. Must Do
These are the most important tasks that need immediate action.
Examples: Delivering a commissioned piece, submitting work for a licensing deal, or preparing for an upcoming trade show.
Action: Focus on these tasks first. Completing them will have the most significant impact on your goals and career trajectory.
Applying the Four DOs to Your 2025 Goals
To effectively use the Four DOs, follow these steps:
List Your Goals: Write down your personal and professional goals for 2025. Be specific and realistic.
Example: Launching a new surface design collection, growing your online presence, or securing three new licensing deals.
Break Down Tasks: Break each goal into smaller tasks and categorize them using the Four DOs.
Example:
Must Do: Finish your portfolio for submission to an agent.
Would Do: Research upcoming trade shows to attend.
Could Do: Experiment with a new design tool.
Can Do: Redesign your email signature.
Set Deadlines: Assign realistic timelines to each task based on its urgency and importance.
Review Regularly: Revisit your goals and tasks weekly to ensure you’re staying on track. Adjust priorities as needed.
Tips for Focusing on What Matters
Align Goals with Your Vision: Always ask yourself if a task moves you closer to your long-term aspirations. If it doesn’t, reconsider its importance.
Learn to Say No: As a creative, you may be tempted to take on every opportunity. Be selective and focus on projects that align with your goals.
Use Tools for Organization: Apps like Trello, Notion, or a simple planner can help you organize your tasks based on the Four DOs.
Avoid Burnout: Prioritize self-care and ensure your schedule includes time for rest and creative exploration.
The Power of Focus in a Creative Business
As an artist, surface designer, or graphic designer, it’s easy to get distracted by daily demands. However, by understanding the difference between urgent and important tasks and applying the Four DOs, you can maintain focus on what truly matters.
When you feel overwhelmed, remember that your time and energy are finite. The key to success lies in prioritizing activities that move you closer to your dreams. Let 2025 be the year you take control of your creative journey and set yourself up for long-term success.
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To your success, Vinh Van Lam and Stuart Horrex Cofounders ArtSHINE.com
