--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole…" description: "\"If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to change priorities.\" — David Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png" --- # If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to… ![“If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to change priorities.” quote by David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png) > “If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to change priorities.” [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Zero backlog simplifies priority shifts, making task management more flexible. **In simple terms:** No tasks = easy changes. Key Takeaway Keep task list empty. Themes productivity focus flexibility Mood practical instructive Type productivity self‑help When to use this quote - project planning - daily scheduling - team coordination Key Concepts workflow prioritization time management Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain zero backlog? - What tools aid this? A Different Perspective Backlog can reappear quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-priorities-277396/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-change-613504/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lot Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-easier/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero/) [Zero Backlog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero-backlog-2977394/) ## Related quotes > [It's a lot easier to change and improve a thing that is already finished as opposed to something you're in the middle of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-hunt/it-s-a-lot-easier-to-change-and-improve-a-thing-that-is-already/) [Brendan Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-hunt/) > [To change your LIFE you need to change your PRIORITIES.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-change-your-life-you-need-to-change-your-priorities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Want to be successful? Change your priorities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/want-to-be-successful-change-your-priorities/) [Himmilicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himmilicious/) > [Everything you now do is something you have chosen to do. Some people don't want to believe that. But if you're over age twenty-one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/everything-you-now-do-is-something-you-have-chosen-to-do-some-people/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [ I'm willing to engage or indulge real ideas, but if we don't do something \[about global warming\], we're all going to die! What's it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-m-willing-to-engage-or-indulge-real-ideas-but-if-we-don-t-do/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [It's easier to change directions if you are in motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/it-s-easier-to-change-directions-if-you-are-in-motion/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“We do change priorities for people and people for priorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-barad/we-do-change-priorities-for-people-and-people-for-priorities/) [Rohan Barad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohan-barad/) > [You're going to have to change the priorities of your life, if you love this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/you-re-going-to-have-to-change-the-priorities-of-your-life-if-you/) [Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/) > [Sometimes people don't change, their priorities do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-people-don-t-change-their-priorities-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes when a new piece of knowledge comes along you suddenly change your priorities and focus on something completely different instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/sometimes-when-a-new-piece-of-knowledge-comes-along-you-suddenly/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [I think parenthood does change your priorities quite drastically in an incredibly good way - most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-think-parenthood-does-change-your-priorities-quite-drastically-in/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/we-live-in-a-changing-world-but-we-need-to-be-reminded-that-the/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-as-one-who-kept-my-priorities-in-the-right/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [“Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/living-the-rest-of-your-life-for-the-glory-of-god-will-require-a/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If we can change our priorities, achieve balance and understanding in our roles as human beings in a complex world, the coming era can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigurd-f-olson/if-we-can-change-our-priorities-achieve-balance-and-understanding-in/) [Sigurd F. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigurd-f-olson/) ## More by David Allen > [“Klara Sztucinski, and Elliott Kellman. The administrative”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/klara-sztucinski-and-elliott-kellman-the-administrative/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/your-ability-to-generate-power-is-directly-proportional-to-your/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Too much information creates the same result as too little:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/too-much-information-creates-the-same-result-as-too-little/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-don-t-actually-do-a-project-you-can-only-do-action-steps-related/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [You won't see how to do it until you see yourself doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-won-t-see-how-to-do-it-until-you-see-yourself-doing-it/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“It’s the nature of human experience, which is always in some form of motion, to veer off course—sometimes in major, but consistently in minor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/it-s-the-nature-of-human-experience-which-is-always-in-some-form-of/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“The real challenge is to make good communication a handy and well-used tool. 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But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) [Roger Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sperry/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) [Browse all 5,480 Easier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to change priorities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-lot-easier-to-change-priorities/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easier" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-lot-easier-to-change-priorities/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/david-allen-2835_easier_if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-l_314392.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you’re at zero backlog, it’s a whole lot easier to change priorities.” — David Allen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you’re at zero backlog, it’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-lot-easier-to-change-priorities/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-re-at-zero-backlog-it-s-a-whole-lot-easier-to-change-priorities/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```