# STAR: ruthless prioritization

> Write a STAR about a quarter where you had 2x the work you could deliver. Show the cut list and how you got buy-in on it.

Canonical: https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/drills/star-prioritization

Write a STAR about a quarter where you had 2x the work you could deliver. Show the cut list and how you got buy-in on it.

## The mechanism

Prioritization is saying no to good things, not bad ones. If you cannot list what you are NOT doing this week, you have not actually prioritized — you have just written a wish list.

## Expected evidence

starStory() returns { situation, task, action, result, metric: { name, unit, before, after }, cutList (array of 3+ things you did NOT do) }. The checker enforces structure only: four distinct sections of 20+ words, action the longest, 150+ words total, before ≠ after, and the result section must name the metric and state its after value. Aim for 250-350 words — that is the interview bar, not the checker’s.

## Hints

- Saying no to a good thing is the actual skill.
- A written cut list is a forcing function for buy-in.

## Sources and practice

- [Time management (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_management)
- [STAR interview method (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation,_task,_action,_result)
- [Study Prioritization](https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/concepts/time-management-and-prioritization)
- [Try the interactive drill](https://learn.significanthobbies.com/drills/star-prioritization)
- [All practice briefs](https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/drills/)