Shoot the Crocodile Closest to the Boat
Managing those times when life throws you more curve balls than you have hands to catch them
If you know me, chances are you've heard me say this during one of our catch-ups:
"Shoot the crocodile closest to the boat."
But what does it actually mean?
We're all busy. Whether it's work, family, clients, deadlines, emails, or just life in general, there are times when everything seems urgent and important at the same time.
When you're facing work overload, it can be difficult to know where to start.
I like to imagine those competing demands as a group of crocodiles swimming towards my boat. If that's the case, it makes sense to identify and deal with the one that's going to reach you first.
(Disclaimer for all animal lovers: I have never shot a crocodile and have no intention of starting now. They're amazing animals and should be admired and respected... preferably from a safe distance 😊)
So how do you decide which crocodile to deal with first?
Here are a few practical tips that have helped me over the years.
Prioritise What Really Matters
When everything feels urgent, it's helpful to step back and sort tasks into four categories.
Urgent and Important
These are the tasks that need your immediate attention. Think of these as the closest and hungriest crocodiles heading straight for the boat.
This is where your focus should be.
Important but Not Urgent
These tasks are easy to put off because there's no immediate deadline, but they often have the greatest long-term impact.
Schedule dedicated time in your calendar and treat that time like an unbreakable appointment. These crocodiles may be further away, but they'll eventually reach the boat if ignored.
Urgent but Not Important
These are often someone else's priorities rather than your own.
If possible, delegate them or outsource them. Your time is usually better spent on the first two categories.
Let someone else deal with those crocodiles... perhaps from another boat 😊
Neither Urgent nor Important
These are the distractions that consume time without adding value.
Be ruthless. Ditch them.
They're the toothless crocodiles.
This framework helps you focus on the tasks that genuinely move the needle while avoiding the trap of spending your day reacting to everything that lands in your inbox.
P.S. This approach is also known as the Eisenhower Matrix, but "shoot the crocodile closest to the boat" is much more fun.
Set Realistic Deadlines
It's important to be realistic about what you can achieve in a day, a week, or a month.
You can't shoot all the crocodiles at once.
Trying to do so usually leads to stress, frustration, and eventually burnout.
When setting deadlines, take into account:
The complexity of the task
Your current workload
Other commitments
Potential obstacles or delays
Building a little buffer into your schedule can make a huge difference when the unexpected inevitably happens.
Because let's be honest, another crocodile usually appears when you least expect it.s.
Learn to Say No
Your time and energy are some of your most valuable resources.
Protect them.
Before saying yes to something new, ask yourself:
Does this align with my goals?
Will this add value to my business?
Am I the best person to do it?
Could this be delegated?
Does it actually need to be done at all?
Saying no isn't selfish.
It's often the only way to create space for the things that matter most.
Every time you say yes to something that doesn't deserve your attention, you're effectively saying no to something that doe?
Final Thoughts
Life has a funny way of sending multiple crocodiles at us all at once.
When that happens, don't panic.
Take a step back, identify the crocodile closest to the boat, and deal with that one first.
Then move on to the next.
You don't have to solve everything today.
You just need to focus on the thing that matters most right now.
Sometimes that's enough to turn a stressful week back into a manageable one.