--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it…" description: "\"Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential dilemma on whether to put that task on your To Do list\" — James C. Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/james-c-collins-2276_dilemma_start-a-stop-doing-list-i-ll-leave-it-as_1068541.png" --- # Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential… ![“Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential dilemma on whether to put that task on your To Do list” quote by James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/james-c-collins-2276_dilemma_start-a-stop-doing-list-i-ll-leave-it-as_1068541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/james-c-collins-2276_dilemma_start-a-stop-doing-list-i-ll-leave-it-as_1068541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/james-c-collins-2276_dilemma_start-a-stop-doing-list-i-ll-leave-it-as_1068541.png) > “Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential dilemma on whether to put that task on your To Do list” [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating a list of tasks to stop doing helps prioritize and reduce overload, improving focus on essential work. **In simple terms:** Identify and drop low‑value tasks. Key Takeaway Eliminate distractions to boost productivity. Themes productivity focus prioritization Mood reflective encouraging Type advice strategic When to use this quote - project planning - daily workflow - team meetings Key Concepts decision making time management Questions to Reflect On - Which tasks truly add value? - How will removing them change your day? A Different Perspective Stopping tasks can be hard if they’re habitually ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dilemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dilemma/) [Existential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-digh/sometimes-our-stop-doing-list-needs-to-be-bigger-than-our-to-do-list/) [Patti Digh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-digh/) > [The start of the New Year is a perfect time to start a stop doing list and to make this the cornerstone of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-start-of-the-new-year-is-a-perfect-time-to-start-a-stop-doing/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“There are plenty of other ways to mend a broken heart, and doing some list full of stuff that you don't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-bell/there-are-plenty-of-other-ways-to-mend-a-broken-heart-and-doing-some/) [Anna Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-bell/) > [I struggle with my training sometimes. The thing I look at is if you keep getting up and moving forward, you'll be successful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-shamrock/i-struggle-with-my-training-sometimes-the-thing-i-look-at-is-if-you/) [Ken Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-shamrock/) > [If adults are not enjoying something they're doing in their leisure time, they should stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/if-adults-are-not-enjoying-something-they-re-doing-in-their-leisure/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Stop doing what is wrong, and do good... Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-doing-what-is-wrong-and-do-good-look-for-peace-and-do-all-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[T\]he hidden linguistic universe of companianate couples... rests entirely on one generative phrase: 'Would you please stop doing that.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kipnis/t-he-hidden-linguistic-universe-of-companianate-couples-rests/) [Laura Kipnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kipnis/) > [I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pelley/i-wonder-at-what-point-do-you-stop-doing-what-you-think-is-right-and/) [Scott Pelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pelley/) > [Sometimes people don't notice the things you do for them until you stop doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/sometimes-people-don-t-notice-the-things-you-do-for-them-until-you/) [Israa Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [Success is ever so dangerous. Once you rise to success, it's so easy to stop doing the things that made you successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/success-is-ever-so-dangerous-once-you-rise-to-success-it-s-so-easy-to/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [Sometimes people don't notice things we do for them until we stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/sometimes-people-don-t-notice-things-we-do-for-them-until-we-stop/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/whatever-excites-you-go-do-it-whatever-drains-you-stop-doing-it/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [“It’s usually not a good idea to stop doing features entirely, to “clean up” the code. It might be, but I’d bet it isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-usually-not-a-good-idea-to-stop-doing-features-entirely-to-clean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let nobody try to stop y'all from doing what y'all trying to do man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rock/don-t-let-nobody-try-to-stop-y-all-from-doing-what-y-all-trying-to-do/) [Jay Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rock/) > [If you're in a meeting and a man talks loudly over you, rather than copying that behaviour and normalising it, what you could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/if-you-re-in-a-meeting-and-a-man-talks-loudly-over-you-rather-than/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) ## More by James C. Collins > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“This might not sound very exciting (inventory management is not something that tends to rivet readers), but think of it this way: Imagine walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/this-might-not-sound-very-exciting-inventory-management-is-not/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“Merck • Corporate social responsibility • Unequivocal excellence in all aspects of the company • Science-based innovation • Honesty and integrity • Profit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/merck-corporate-social-responsibility-unequivocal-excellence-in-all/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Greatest danger is not failure, but be successful and not know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/greatest-danger-is-not-failure-but-be-successful-and-not-know-why/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“If you have the right people on the bus, they will be self-motivated. The real question then becomes: How do you manage in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/if-you-have-the-right-people-on-the-bus-they-will-be-self-motivated/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“2. Core purpose is an organization’s most fundamental reason for being. It should not be confused with the company’s current product lines or customer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/2-core-purpose-is-an-organization-s-most-fundamental-reason-for-being/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The drive for progress doesn't wait for the external world to say "It's time to change."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-drive-for-progress-doesn-t-wait-for-the-external-world-to-say-it/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The secret to a successful retirement is to find your retirement sweet spot. The sweet spot is where your passions, what you do best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-secret-to-a-successful-retirement-is-to-find-your-retirement/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Managing your problems can only make you good, whereas building your opportunities is the only way to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/managing-your-problems-can-only-make-you-good-whereas-building-your/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Creative leadership impact increases in your 50's. When I turn 50 I want to say, "Nice start!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/creative-leadership-impact-increases-in-your-50-s-when-i-turn-50-i/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“The fact that something is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” is irrelevant, unless it fits within the three circles. A great company will have many once-in-a-lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-fact-that-something-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-is/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Don't take care of your career. Take care of your people. They will take care of your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/don-t-take-care-of-your-career-take-care-of-your-people-they-will/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Indeed, the real question is not, "Why greatness?" but "What work makes you feel compelled to try to create greatness?" if you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/indeed-the-real-question-is-not-why-greatness-but-what-work-makes-you/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Not one of the good-to-great companies focused obsessively on growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/not-one-of-the-good-to-great-companies-focused-obsessively-on-growth/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“Compare Bethlehem Steel to Nucor. Both companies operated in the steel industry and produced hard-to-differentiate products. Both companies faced the competitive challenge of cheap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/compare-bethlehem-steel-to-nucor-both-companies-operated-in-the-steel/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) [Explore all 175 James C. Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## More Dilemma quotes > [“When in dilemma, pause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/when-in-dilemma-pause/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [Anyone who will look at my life from the outside won't see the struggles inside. Sometimes, things are not always as we see or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kaushik/anyone-who-will-look-at-my-life-from-the-outside-won-t-see-the/) [Chanda Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kaushik/) > [The person who is ignorant enough to believe that his nourishment depends on meat is in a horrible dilemma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-person-who-is-ignorant-enough-to-believe-that-his-nourishment/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I understand why creative people like dark, but American audiences dont like dark. They like story. They do not respond to nervous breakdowns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-moonves/i-understand-why-creative-people-like-dark-but-american-audiences/) [Leslie Moonves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-moonves/) > [“How can we get what we really want and at the same time deal with the needs of others in our lives? Perhaps no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ury/how-can-we-get-what-we-really-want-and-at-the-same-time-deal-with-the/) [William Ury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ury/) > [Pure, hard-core liberals believe in a superior race. They think they're it. They believe they're more intelligent than the general run of mankind, better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/pure-hard-core-liberals-believe-in-a-superior-race-they-think-they-re/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [On earth where love lives, Also the place where dilemma exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddhachild/on-earth-where-love-lives-also-the-place-where-dilemma-exists/) [BuddhaChild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddhachild/) > [“Such elusive puzzles recall the historian's basic dilemma: the absence of evidence does not always signify evidence of absence. In the end, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-markel/such-elusive-puzzles-recall-the-historian-s-basic-dilemma-the-absence/) Howard Markel > [This is our problem, our dilemma, yes? We cannot celebrate and declare ourselves to belong to the victorious nations because our brothers and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-rommel/this-is-our-problem-our-dilemma-yes-we-cannot-celebrate-and-declare/) [Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-rommel/) > [“It was the dilemma all three of us had. Every choice we made cut us off permanently from someone we loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyeonseo-lee/it-was-the-dilemma-all-three-of-us-had-every-choice-we-made-cut-us/) [Hyeonseo Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyeonseo-lee/) > [As the Hindu gods are 'immortal' only in a very particular sense - for they had born and they die - they experience most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-hindu-gods-are-immortal-only-in-a-very-particular-sense-for-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science is important, but so is ethics, so is balancing life. To destroy life to save life - it's one of the real ethical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/science-is-important-but-so-is-ethics-so-is-balancing-life-to-destroy/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The great thing about the dilemma we're in is that we get to re-imagine every single thing we do...There isn't a single thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/the-great-thing-about-the-dilemma-we-re-in-is-that-we-get-to-re/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Our only goal is to strengthen the opposition and to avoid the dilemma whereby we only have the choice between Bashar Assad and al-Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/our-only-goal-is-to-strengthen-the-opposition-and-to-avoid-the/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Developed and benefited from the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption which have produced our present dilemma. It is clear that current lifestyles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/developed-and-benefited-from-the-unsustainable-patterns-of-production/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) [Browse all 417 Dilemma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dilemma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential dilemma on whether to put that task on your To Do list", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James C. 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