15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse Summary

15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse distills productivity strategies from interviews with billionaires, Olympic athletes, and entrepreneurs. It emphasizes prioritizing Most Important Tasks (MITs), replacing to-do lists with calendar blocking, and focusing on energy management over time tracking. The book provides actionable frameworks like the "321" email system and debunks myths about multitasking.

This book suits professionals, entrepreneurs, and students seeking structured time management techniques. It’s ideal for those overwhelmed by procrastination, inefficient meetings, or email overload. Readers who value research-backed methods (drawn from 200+ high performers) will find strategies to reclaim 8+ hours weekly.

Yes—it condenses complex productivity science into digestible, actionable steps. While some concepts (like the 80/20 rule) aren’t new, Kruse’s systems like “Time Travel” to combat procrastination and MIT prioritization offer fresh implementation tactics. The 1440-minute daily mindset shift alone justifies the read.

Kevin Kruse is a NY Times bestselling author, Inc. 500 entrepreneur, and Forbes contributor. He built/sold multiple companies using the productivity principles outlined in the book, later validating them through interviews with 200+ top performers. His blend of real-world success and academic rigor lends credibility.

The MIT method involves identifying 1-3 critical daily tasks that align with long-term goals and tackling them first. Kruse highlights how billionaires like Mark Pincus use this to maintain focus, arguing that completing MITs early ensures progress even if lesser tasks remain.

Kruse’s "321" system limits email checks to 3x daily, aiming for a 21-minute total. He advises processing emails in batches: delete irrelevant ones, delegate non-urgent tasks, and respond immediately if under 5 minutes. This reclaims ~8 hours weekly lost to inbox chaos.

"Time Travel" involves visualizing future consequences of procrastination (e.g., stress from missed deadlines) to motivate present action. Kruse pairs this with accountability partners and reframing tasks as pleasure-driven vs. pain-avoidant, leveraging behavioral psychology.

Unlike tactical guides, Kruse focuses on mindset shifts: treating minutes as finite assets (1,440/day) and prioritizing energy peaks. The calendar-blocking approach replaces vague to-do lists, while case studies (e.g., Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh) ground theories in real success.

Some reviewers note overlap with existing productivity literature (e.g., Eisenhower Matrix). Others find the notebook-carrying advice outdated in digital eras. However, most praise its concise format and actionable systems like MITs, rating it 4.5/5 for practicality.

Kruse teaches identifying the 20% of tasks generating 80% of results. For example, focusing on client acquisition over administrative work if it drives revenue. This requires auditing activities weekly and delegating/cutting low-impact tasks.

Meetings are a last resort—only when async communication (email, Slack) fails. Kruse recommends setting 15-minute defaults, requiring agendas, and banning devices. He cites LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner’s “buffer time” method to prevent back-to-back meeting burnout.

Secret #15 argues productivity hinges on mental/physical energy, not hours worked. Kruse advises readers to align tasks with energy levels (e.g., creative work mornings, meetings afternoons) and invest daily in health rituals (exercise, meditation) to sustain performance.