---
title: "The second fundamental: the task list"
description: "Our current blog series focuses on what I refer to as: “The 6 fundamentals needed for a great organization system.” The last blog focused on the first fundamental of every great organization system: the calendar. In today’s post, we will focus on the second fundamental: the task list."
---

[TCN Blog ](https://www.teleioscn.org/blog)

# [The second fundamental: the task list](https://www.teleioscn.org/blog/the-second-fundamental-the-task-list)

 Written by [Chris Comeaux](https://www.teleioscn.org/blog/author/chris-comeaux) | 3/5/19 7:28 PM

Our current blog series focuses on what I refer to as: “The 6 fundamentals needed for a great organization system.” The last blog focused on the first fundamental of every great organization system: **[the calendar](https://www.teleioscn.org/blog/the-calendar-the-1st-fundamental-of-a-great-organization-system)**. In today’s post, we will focus on the second fundamental: the task list.

Let me begin by describing what a task list is not.  A task list is not when you get out a yellow legal pad and write out all that you have on your plate. What I just described is closer to “binge and purge”, like we did in college when we crammed for a test the night before and then got it all out on the test the next day. If this is your version of a task list, it demonstrates that you are lacking an effective tool for this fundamental. 

A true task list is a tool like [Microsoft OneNote](https://www.onenote.com/?404&public=1), [EverNote](https://evernote.com/), [ToDoist](https://todoist.com/?lang=en), [Google Keep](https://keep.google.com/), [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/), [Excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/excel/cfq7ttc0k7dx?=&OCID=AID737190_SEM_JRCOoPCD&MarinID=sJRCOoPCD%7c333546465109%7cexcel%7ce%7cc%7c%7c56323746662%7caud-303985077083%3akwd-11653021&lnkd=Google_O365SMB_Mixed&gclid=CjwKCAiA2fjjBRAjEiwAuewS_UHCRcyNWC6j6ZGWX3qBL-cLM4Mm9LOj2LJOFU2EPz7rviQ1MKlXOxoCilYQAvD_BwE&activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab), or any of the many tools out there that are *a repository of tasks that you need to work on* – the key word being repository.

Many of you might, at minimum, have one of those tools at your disposal, but I would guess you don’t use it consistently for various reasons.  So, let’s go through some tips of how to more effectively utilize a task list:

- **Create tasks**

- **Break down those tasks into next steps**

- **Categorize your tasks**

Tasks, on one hand, seem elementary. After reading this blog it might seem more complicated than you were thinking! However, mastering maintenance of a basic task list system is essential to organization and, ultimately, success in your endeavors. Keep the following basics in mind as you create a system that works for you:

- Create a repository to keep your open tasks. 
- Process what are the next steps to move your task forward and record that in your task tool. 
- Lastly, use categories to organize your tasks. Categories help you trust the repository and only focus on those which are most important at the moment.

 

**Chris Comeaux**, President / *CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network

*

 

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