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Undoing Urgency: Reclaim Your Time for the Things that Matter Most
Stop drowning in urgency and start living with purpose
Ryan Matt Reynolds is a successful strength coach, business owner, and business mentor. This book is the road map he wished he had many years ago when he felt like he was drowning in urgency. Reynolds’s personal journey as a professional athlete, business owner, husband, father, and mentor lends credence to his practices as he shares his foundational principles.
Deprioritize to-do listsUndo excuses that derail progressEmbrace voluntary hardshipCreate focused, efficient work that moves the needleReynolds’s systematic approach guides readers in laying the foundation for change from the first chapter. No fluff. All substance.
Undoing Urgency also details the GAME Plan (Goals, Actions, Metrics, and Execution), which turns core values into high-priority goals and minimum effective dose actions for maximum impact. The GAME Plan works for all goals, having been used at the highest levels in business, health, life, and the most personal ambitions. It takes readers on a journey of personal discovery to identify what brings them value and joy. Ultimately, Reynolds wants to help people break free of urgency and start living a value-driven life dedicated to what is most important to them.
Ryan Matt Reynolds is a successful strength coach, business owner, and business mentor. This book is the road map he wished he had many years ago when he felt like he was drowning in urgency. Reynolds’s personal journey as a professional athlete, business owner, husband, father, and mentor lends credence to his practices as he shares his foundational principles.
Deprioritize to-do listsUndo excuses that derail progressEmbrace voluntary hardshipCreate focused, efficient work that moves the needleReynolds’s systematic approach guides readers in laying the foundation for change from the first chapter. No fluff. All substance.
Undoing Urgency also details the GAME Plan (Goals, Actions, Metrics, and Execution), which turns core values into high-priority goals and minimum effective dose actions for maximum impact. The GAME Plan works for all goals, having been used at the highest levels in business, health, life, and the most personal ambitions. It takes readers on a journey of personal discovery to identify what brings them value and joy. Ultimately, Reynolds wants to help people break free of urgency and start living a value-driven life dedicated to what is most important to them.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published December 10, 2024
48 people are currently reading
2088 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 29, 2025
I liked the title and my son suggested it to me as I am making a few business decisions. As an interesting story of one man’s success, it was ….interesting. No fault of the book, but I am not the target market for this type of business book which is based on myriads of initialisms. I am more the non-master-plan,no need to worry about legacy type.
December 6, 2024
*I won this Kindle book from Goodreads. Thank You!
This book has so much usable information and it is worth a second, third read. I have already started applying a few things from this book. He shares his errors before and the gains from implementing changes. Author is knowledgeable and has weekly podcast as well as a website.
This book has so much usable information and it is worth a second, third read. I have already started applying a few things from this book. He shares his errors before and the gains from implementing changes. Author is knowledgeable and has weekly podcast as well as a website.
January 19, 2025
A good read
Most of the time, we dedicate ourselves to give importance to the things that in one way or another give us economic peace of mind. And we lose sight of what may really be important to us, such as family, values, friends, etc.
With Matt Reynold's Undoing Urgenc, one learns to reflect on what is really important to one and what must be done to rescue what has been lost.
It is an easy book to read, that you do not want to stop reading. Also, as you read it, you feel fully identified with what you read and you learn which are the paths to take to give the right value to things, without leaving aside the tasks that are performed. In other words, you learn to give the right value to what you do.
Most of the time, we dedicate ourselves to give importance to the things that in one way or another give us economic peace of mind. And we lose sight of what may really be important to us, such as family, values, friends, etc.
With Matt Reynold's Undoing Urgenc, one learns to reflect on what is really important to one and what must be done to rescue what has been lost.
It is an easy book to read, that you do not want to stop reading. Also, as you read it, you feel fully identified with what you read and you learn which are the paths to take to give the right value to things, without leaving aside the tasks that are performed. In other words, you learn to give the right value to what you do.
December 31, 2024
I won the Kindle version through Good Reads Giveaway. The title resonated with me because there's a lot of false urgencies in corporate America which creates distractions from what's truly important. I am about 40% in and so far Ryan has talked about the Pomodoro technique and doing your most important task first. Not new information but organized in an easy to understand manner. I will update this review when I finish the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and to author Ryan Matt Reynolds, the successful founder and Chief Executive Officer of Barbell Logic Online Coaching, for providing me with a Kindle copy of this non-fiction work that outlines a series of mechanisms that may be used to (a) distinguish between urgent vs. non-urgent and important vs. non-important tasks, (b) create a focused work environment where tasks can be completed in an efficient manner, (c) identify core values, and (d) develop a GAME plan to accomplish specific short and long term goals consistent with core values. With time being a finite resource that cannot be purchased or extended, Reynolds argues that attention each day should be directed toward tasks that provide value and joy rather than mindlessly trying to oversee every single task that crosses a person’s desk, which Reynolds calls urgency. This book explores options to combat urgency and to focus on goals and tasks that really matter.
To assist with distinguishing between urgent vs. non-urgent and important vs. non-important tasks, the author introduces the Eisenhower Matrix to assist with classifying all tasks into one of four quadrants: Not Urgent/Not Important, Urgent/Not Important, Urgent/Important, and Not Urgent/Important. Based on how each individual or business classifies each task, the author argues that the tasks can be eliminated, delegated, handled efficiently, or enjoyed. For the tasks that require efficient handling, Reynolds suggests that focused work and setting aggressive deadlines are the best ways to complete those tasks quickly, and Reynolds provides tips on how to facilitate focused work and set aggressive deadlines. By using these processes, Reynolds notes that the number of daily tasks will be significantly reduced, which will permit more attention to be allocated to identifying core values and developing strategies to align goals with core values. Reynolds supports adopting a GAME (Goals, Actions, Metrics, and Execution) Plan once core values are identified to assist with accomplishing long-term goals consistent with those core values. Each of the four components of the GAME Plan are explored in separate chapters with concrete examples provided throughout to make the concepts more accessible.
Reynolds shared both his personal and professional challenges and how he addressed those challenges to become successful in business. Reynolds stresses that each business or individual must determine what tasks are important and create goals that are consistent with the unique core values of that person or business. Though the frameworks outlined may be used universally, the goals and values inputted into the framework are unique to each person and business. Further, a helpful overview of the concepts addressed is provided at the beginning of the book, and a summary of key takeaways is provided at the end of most chapters.
Though the frameworks provided in this book may be applied both by individuals and businesses, I believe current business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs will find the most value by reading this book. The book is often a bit too heavy on theory or nebulous concepts and occasionally reads like a business or operational management textbook. Though the examples provided by Reynolds are helpful to explain the more difficult concepts, the processes should be simplified if the goal is to have individuals implement these frameworks in their personal lives.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and to author Ryan Matt Reynolds, the successful founder and Chief Executive Officer of Barbell Logic Online Coaching, for providing me with a Kindle copy of this non-fiction work that outlines a series of mechanisms that may be used to (a) distinguish between urgent vs. non-urgent and important vs. non-important tasks, (b) create a focused work environment where tasks can be completed in an efficient manner, (c) identify core values, and (d) develop a GAME plan to accomplish specific short and long term goals consistent with core values. With time being a finite resource that cannot be purchased or extended, Reynolds argues that attention each day should be directed toward tasks that provide value and joy rather than mindlessly trying to oversee every single task that crosses a person’s desk, which Reynolds calls urgency. This book explores options to combat urgency and to focus on goals and tasks that really matter.
To assist with distinguishing between urgent vs. non-urgent and important vs. non-important tasks, the author introduces the Eisenhower Matrix to assist with classifying all tasks into one of four quadrants: Not Urgent/Not Important, Urgent/Not Important, Urgent/Important, and Not Urgent/Important. Based on how each individual or business classifies each task, the author argues that the tasks can be eliminated, delegated, handled efficiently, or enjoyed. For the tasks that require efficient handling, Reynolds suggests that focused work and setting aggressive deadlines are the best ways to complete those tasks quickly, and Reynolds provides tips on how to facilitate focused work and set aggressive deadlines. By using these processes, Reynolds notes that the number of daily tasks will be significantly reduced, which will permit more attention to be allocated to identifying core values and developing strategies to align goals with core values. Reynolds supports adopting a GAME (Goals, Actions, Metrics, and Execution) Plan once core values are identified to assist with accomplishing long-term goals consistent with those core values. Each of the four components of the GAME Plan are explored in separate chapters with concrete examples provided throughout to make the concepts more accessible.
Reynolds shared both his personal and professional challenges and how he addressed those challenges to become successful in business. Reynolds stresses that each business or individual must determine what tasks are important and create goals that are consistent with the unique core values of that person or business. Though the frameworks outlined may be used universally, the goals and values inputted into the framework are unique to each person and business. Further, a helpful overview of the concepts addressed is provided at the beginning of the book, and a summary of key takeaways is provided at the end of most chapters.
Though the frameworks provided in this book may be applied both by individuals and businesses, I believe current business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs will find the most value by reading this book. The book is often a bit too heavy on theory or nebulous concepts and occasionally reads like a business or operational management textbook. Though the examples provided by Reynolds are helpful to explain the more difficult concepts, the processes should be simplified if the goal is to have individuals implement these frameworks in their personal lives.
February 5, 2025
A large portion of the book is devoted to deprioritizing your life. Reynolds’ book speaks to a methodology he labeled the GAME Plan, which stands for goals, actions, metrics, and execution. What are your core values? What is a core value in the first place? How do core values relate to your goals and ultimately the mark you want to leave upon the world. I don’t mean skid mark like Jake and Logan Paul.
This quote in particular stood out:
I love that. How do you want to be remembered? What legacy do you want to leave? This book talks directly to that but helps you move out the distractions and wasted time so you can not just focus on what is important, but go at it head-on. There is a lot of plain language used in this book and I thought that was great. Reynolds doesn’t need to be extremely fancy. He breaks his process down with a very common sense approach that anyone can follow and see success from.
This is available via Kindle, but I would encourage you to buy a physical copy. This is one that could easily be bookmarked, notated, etc. taken off the shelf to read annually to keep on track.
This quote in particular stood out:
“Anything not communicated or acted on when you leave this earth will not be what you are remembered for. Your core values are your eulogy, if you could write it yourself. So, ask and answer the question, “How do I want to be remembered?”
I love that. How do you want to be remembered? What legacy do you want to leave? This book talks directly to that but helps you move out the distractions and wasted time so you can not just focus on what is important, but go at it head-on. There is a lot of plain language used in this book and I thought that was great. Reynolds doesn’t need to be extremely fancy. He breaks his process down with a very common sense approach that anyone can follow and see success from.
This is available via Kindle, but I would encourage you to buy a physical copy. This is one that could easily be bookmarked, notated, etc. taken off the shelf to read annually to keep on track.
January 16, 2025
"Undoing Urgency" by James Clear seems like a book that can help people stop living in a constant rush. In today’s world, we’re often pressured to do everything fast or right away, but this book suggests that slowing down and focusing on long-term goals is way more beneficial. Instead of reacting to every small task or feeling like you have to do everything urgently, the book encourages us to think about what really matters in the long run. By focusing on long-term goals, we can reduce stress, make better decisions, and build a life that aligns with our values. It’s not just about getting things done quickly, it’s about doing the right things that will lead to lasting happiness and success. This approach helps create more calm and control, instead of feeling overwhelmed all the time.
January 16, 2025
This book helped me change my perspective on how to confront my life and my daily tasks, breaking free from this relentless pace of our lives nowadays. Ryan Matt Reynolds is an amazing author, using his experience as athlete, entrepreneur and mentor, he built an excellent tool called the GAME Plan framework. This tool has changed my life! It has helped me align my daily actions and my core values, understanding what’s essential in life and, change my life from a state of constant urgency and worrying to a value-driven life. If you feel that you have a lot of pressure in your life, and that everything in your life is fast-paced, this book is something for you; this will help you understand how to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
January 16, 2025
I purchased this book since the title caught my attention, undoing urgency has always sounded impossible for me.
After reading this book, I learned how to prioritize, how to dismantle my to-do list.
What I liked the most about this book is the part where the author proposes actions to tackle different ultimate goals, such as looking and feeling healthier or financial freedom. Besides, he put the chapters together in a very dynamic way, supported by charts, graphs, and images that help readers follow what Reynolds is saying since we are able to visualize and picture every word in our minds.
Thank you, author Reynolds for helping me understand after 41 years of life, what’s urgent and what’s not. Recommended!
After reading this book, I learned how to prioritize, how to dismantle my to-do list.
What I liked the most about this book is the part where the author proposes actions to tackle different ultimate goals, such as looking and feeling healthier or financial freedom. Besides, he put the chapters together in a very dynamic way, supported by charts, graphs, and images that help readers follow what Reynolds is saying since we are able to visualize and picture every word in our minds.
Thank you, author Reynolds for helping me understand after 41 years of life, what’s urgent and what’s not. Recommended!
January 19, 2025
I loved this book.
I loved this book. Without a doubt, this book will have a place in the list of the most interesting books I have read this year. I really like the approach that the book gives us, since the approach that it gives to urgency seems key to me, as perhaps urgency is distracting us from what is really important. I also like that it not only gives us the fundamental pillars of a controlled life, but it also gives us tools and practical advice on how to apply them in life, for this reason, I consider this book a must read for all those who perhaps feel overwhelmed by their current lifestyles. What this book does make very clear is that it is possible to make a change.
I loved this book. Without a doubt, this book will have a place in the list of the most interesting books I have read this year. I really like the approach that the book gives us, since the approach that it gives to urgency seems key to me, as perhaps urgency is distracting us from what is really important. I also like that it not only gives us the fundamental pillars of a controlled life, but it also gives us tools and practical advice on how to apply them in life, for this reason, I consider this book a must read for all those who perhaps feel overwhelmed by their current lifestyles. What this book does make very clear is that it is possible to make a change.
February 11, 2025
Living with urgency is something that has become normalized. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Urgency can sometimes galvanize you into action, but it also produces stress. Stress can impact you in many ways, and none of them are healthy.
This book teaches you how to get away from a constant mentality of urgency. It explains how you can still do everything that you must accomplish, but you can also take a breath and decompress whenever you feel like there’s too much pressure on you. That is crucial in modern society for anyone who doesn’t want to have a heart attack, a stroke, or any similar episode. To get out from under the dark cloud of urgency and to start living a more carefree lifestyle is something to which we should all aspire, and this book can help you do it.
This book teaches you how to get away from a constant mentality of urgency. It explains how you can still do everything that you must accomplish, but you can also take a breath and decompress whenever you feel like there’s too much pressure on you. That is crucial in modern society for anyone who doesn’t want to have a heart attack, a stroke, or any similar episode. To get out from under the dark cloud of urgency and to start living a more carefree lifestyle is something to which we should all aspire, and this book can help you do it.
February 15, 2025
I got it all
When I started reading the book, I realized that it fulfilled many of the things that the author precisely recommends not to do. Well, I was living in the urgency of my tasks, of my to-do list and I was anxious, stressed and frustrated for not being able to accomplish them during the day. The author does not teach very clearly the keys to practicality, efficiency and prioritization. The book has allowed me to understand that we must live from a different perspective, in which we do not sacrifice everything we love for a simple to-do list, after all, life is worth more than any activity. The book is the best for all those who have high-paced jobs and intense schedules like me, it has helped me to take a break.
When I started reading the book, I realized that it fulfilled many of the things that the author precisely recommends not to do. Well, I was living in the urgency of my tasks, of my to-do list and I was anxious, stressed and frustrated for not being able to accomplish them during the day. The author does not teach very clearly the keys to practicality, efficiency and prioritization. The book has allowed me to understand that we must live from a different perspective, in which we do not sacrifice everything we love for a simple to-do list, after all, life is worth more than any activity. The book is the best for all those who have high-paced jobs and intense schedules like me, it has helped me to take a break.
March 9, 2025
This books is a nice short read packed with good information. It helps someone figure out their values and align their work with their long-term goals. As someone who's read a lot of self-help/business books there wasn't anything new or interesting for me, but I do think this would be a good book for someone who is looking for good and attainable action steps to creating more order in their lives.
I appreciated that the author focused on well-known figures, examples, and books to support his methodology and laid out detailed plans to help people implement this into their lives.
The book also came with robust list of references for further reading.
I received this book from Goodreads for free in exchange for an honest review. #GoodReadsGiveaway
I appreciated that the author focused on well-known figures, examples, and books to support his methodology and laid out detailed plans to help people implement this into their lives.
The book also came with robust list of references for further reading.
I received this book from Goodreads for free in exchange for an honest review. #GoodReadsGiveaway
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
Great read.
If you are looking for a guide that helps you to organize your life better and live without rushing and being full of stress, this is the book that you need. ''Undoing Urgency'' is an extraordinary guide that I am sure will change your life from the beginning. From stopping excuses to identifying your core values, this book will help you to plan your life and follow it. Everyone deserves to have a quiet life that allows you to live a fulfilling life. I know that having that can be a challenge but with this book, you will discover how easily everything can change. I highly recommend it for everyone.
If you are looking for a guide that helps you to organize your life better and live without rushing and being full of stress, this is the book that you need. ''Undoing Urgency'' is an extraordinary guide that I am sure will change your life from the beginning. From stopping excuses to identifying your core values, this book will help you to plan your life and follow it. Everyone deserves to have a quiet life that allows you to live a fulfilling life. I know that having that can be a challenge but with this book, you will discover how easily everything can change. I highly recommend it for everyone.
January 18, 2025
Undoing Urgency is a book that lets you take a step back and analyze life. Not only in the financial area, the book also dives into other areas of life, such as health and values, giving interesting points of view and sharing ideas that got stuck in my mind.
It was a productive read, Reynolds combines studies with tuns of experience, guiding the reader through the pages with determination. Moneywise, the author provides useful advice and introduces the GAME plan, a great strategy to maximize income in an invaluable way, following the core values of each individual.
Overall, an interesting book from a talented author
It was a productive read, Reynolds combines studies with tuns of experience, guiding the reader through the pages with determination. Moneywise, the author provides useful advice and introduces the GAME plan, a great strategy to maximize income in an invaluable way, following the core values of each individual.
Overall, an interesting book from a talented author
February 25, 2025
Has helped me stay focused
I’m a believer that goals without actions are simply dreams… But that doesn’t mean I have been able to overcome that hurdle. This book has definitely helped me focus more on metrics and how to get my goals moving. When looking at things like metrics, I can measure my progress and see where I can improve or create more action. The flow charts were a great help at giving me a visual of what to focus on. This has been a game changer for me in breaking things down and making it easier to see the ultimate goal. Very helpful book!
I’m a believer that goals without actions are simply dreams… But that doesn’t mean I have been able to overcome that hurdle. This book has definitely helped me focus more on metrics and how to get my goals moving. When looking at things like metrics, I can measure my progress and see where I can improve or create more action. The flow charts were a great help at giving me a visual of what to focus on. This has been a game changer for me in breaking things down and making it easier to see the ultimate goal. Very helpful book!
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October 19, 2025Transformative
I feel like I am always getting organized so I can get organized. And getting ready so I can get ready. Undoing Urgency helped me break free from that cycle. I cannot overstate how useful this book is. This book taught me to slow down and focus on what is important instead of feeling overwhelmed. His GAME Plan provides a clear roadmap to take control of time, energy, and the never-ending pressure of urgency. His emphasis on aligning actions with personal values, which really resonated with me. If you struggle with feeling rushed or unfocused, this book is a must-read.
I feel like I am always getting organized so I can get organized. And getting ready so I can get ready. Undoing Urgency helped me break free from that cycle. I cannot overstate how useful this book is. This book taught me to slow down and focus on what is important instead of feeling overwhelmed. His GAME Plan provides a clear roadmap to take control of time, energy, and the never-ending pressure of urgency. His emphasis on aligning actions with personal values, which really resonated with me. If you struggle with feeling rushed or unfocused, this book is a must-read.
December 7, 2024
Undoing Urgency
This was a very easy book to understand, which I appreciate very much. Oftentimes, books like this go over my head. So, that was refreshing. This book is for anyone who needs help managing their time better and coming up with their own "GAME" plan. I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to others as well.
This was a very easy book to understand, which I appreciate very much. Oftentimes, books like this go over my head. So, that was refreshing. This book is for anyone who needs help managing their time better and coming up with their own "GAME" plan. I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to others as well.
February 13, 2025
should I prioritize or deprioritize
Focusing on the things that matter most is what this business-owner author is trying to convey. This was a wonderful read that urges us to be more efficient in our progress by deciding what’s most important to our end goal an try matching that up with the things that matter the most to us.
Focusing on the things that matter most is what this business-owner author is trying to convey. This was a wonderful read that urges us to be more efficient in our progress by deciding what’s most important to our end goal an try matching that up with the things that matter the most to us.
February 15, 2025
A very straightforward guide to managing time better and to be able to put the focus on what really matters. The author shares a very simple system and tips to help readers turn goals into real progress. I really like the GAME plan he mentions, it gives something to work towards, and that gives motivation to start doing.
February 21, 2025
A powerful guide
This is a practical and inspiring book that helps readers take back their time and focus on what truly matters.
If you feel overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists and distractions, this book is a must read. Highly recommended for anyone looking to be more intentional with their time!
This is a practical and inspiring book that helps readers take back their time and focus on what truly matters.
If you feel overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists and distractions, this book is a must read. Highly recommended for anyone looking to be more intentional with their time!
March 4, 2025
This book does a great job of creating a viable plan that ties together so much great work out there from Stephen Covey, David Allen, Cal Newport, and John Doerr/Andy Grove. It's like a universal theory of setting goals and knocking them off whether it's for business or personal life. Highly recommended
April 10, 2025
crash course in executive decision making
December 3, 2025
Excellent. I've read a lot of business books and I appreciate Reynold's strategy.
December 17, 2025
Better than the average in this genre.
I guess.
I guess.
January 4, 2026
Good. I’m not planning on adopting his specific approach, but I definitely plan to use the principles.
January 28, 2025
liked the way Matt approaches his concept in getting more “value” from your time. “Pull the weeds” and focus on the flowers. This can be a really difficult process, especially for someone like me who is “to do list” and “handwritten calendars” driven. I wish I had this book in print instead of just my Kindle, but maybe that’s one of the lessons I’m missing from Matt because I’m a dog-ear, highlight, write in the margins, stick note on my favorite reference books. But I appreciated his advice and hope to be able to use it someday … it’s on my to do list 😊
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews