Why Are We Doing This?

At 5thingsdone.com, we’re not here to waste your time with endless to-do lists or productivity hacks that sound good but don’t deliver. We’re here for one reason: to help doers—entrepreneurs, leaders, high performers—cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters. Every week, we ask you a simple question: What are the five biggest things you accomplished in the last seven days? That’s it. No fluff. Just progress.

But why are we doing this? What’s the point of boiling productivity down to five things? The answer lies in a mindset shift—one that’s not so different from the approach Elon Musk and his teams at organizations like Tesla and SpaceX have used to move mountains. Let’s draw the line between 5thingsdone and the productivity philosophy behind D.O.G.E.—the Department of Government Efficiency—and see why this matters.

The Problem: Busyness Isn’t Progress

Most productivity tools keep you busy, not effective. You’ve got apps spitting out endless tasks, notifications pinging every five minutes, and a creeping sense that you’re spinning your wheels. We’ve all been there—drowning in “urgent” emails or chasing small wins that don’t move the needle. The truth is, busyness feels good until you realize it’s not the same as results.

That’s where 5thingsdone comes in. We’re not about managing your inbox or scheduling your day down to the minute. We’re about execution—helping you build a habit of accountability and momentum by focusing on what you’ve done, not what you’re “planning” to do. It’s a subtle but seismic shift: reflecting on real accomplishments trains your brain to prioritize impact over activity.

Enter D.O.G.E. and Elon’s Email Obsession

If you’ve followed Elon Musk’s journey, you know he’s a guy who gets stuff done—rockets launched, cars built, tunnels dug. One of his lesser-known productivity weapons? A relentless focus on communication that cuts the fat. Take the rumored D.O.G.E. initiative (Department of Government Efficiency), a Musk-led vision to streamline bloated systems. While it’s still unfolding as of March 2025, the ethos is clear: efficiency isn’t optional; it’s everything.

Musk has famously pushed his teams to rethink how they communicate. At Tesla and SpaceX, he’s been known to champion concise, actionable emails—ditching long threads and corporate jargon for clarity and purpose. In a leaked 2018 email to Tesla staff, he wrote: “If you’re working on something, don’t send me a vague update. Tell me what’s done and what’s next.” That’s not just a management style; it’s a productivity doctrine.

5thingsdone takes that same spirit and turns it into a system. Our weekly prompt—“What are the five biggest things you accomplished?”—forces you to distill your efforts into clear, concrete wins. No vague updates. No excuses. Just like Musk’s email rule, it’s about stripping away the noise and zeroing in on what’s real.

How 5thingsdone Works

Here’s the deal: 5thingsdone.com is a streamlined SaaS app built for individuals and teams who want results without the bloat. You log in, connect your email (personal or organizational), and add your team—or just yourself. Every week, we send a simple form via email, WhatsApp, Telegram, or your preferred channel. It asks one question: What are your five biggest accomplishments from the last seven days? You fill it out, hit submit, and boom—your progress is documented.

It’s automated, effortless, and designed to keep you sharp. For teams, it’s a lightweight way to stay aligned without endless status meetings. For individuals, it’s your personal accountability partner. Over time, you’ll see patterns—what’s working, what’s stalling—and build momentum that compounds.

Why Five Things?

Five isn’t random. It’s enough to capture meaningful progress without overwhelming you. It’s a number that forces prioritization—because if everything’s a win, nothing is. Musk’s teams don’t succeed by chasing a hundred goals at once; they win by nailing the big stuff. 5thingsdone brings that discipline to your week, every week.

The Bigger Picture

We built 5thingsdone because the world doesn’t need another task manager—it needs a movement. A movement for doers who want to look back and say, “I didn’t just survive this week; I crushed it.” By connecting our system to the same principles that drive Musk’s relentless output—focus, clarity, execution—we’re giving you a tool to not just keep up, but to thrive.

So, why are we doing this? Because productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what counts. And with 5thingsdone, you’ll never lose sight of that again.

Ready to join the movement? Head to 5thingsdone.com and start tracking your five things today.

Published on March 06, 2025