How I Deal With Tangent Projects: A 3-Step Algorithm (Recognize, Delegate, Delete)

Chat with Greg Fridman · Sep 1, 2026 · 7m

A viewer asked how I deal with tangent projects. The ideas that pop up in the middle of what you're actually supposed to be doing. I have a 3-step algorithm I use every day. Here it is.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 The question: how do you handle tangents?

00:32 The 3-step algorithm: recognize, delegate, delete

01:05 Step 1: recognize which ideas are actually important

01:09 Every intake needs a filter (Slack, meetings, your own head)

01:21 Important for you? The team? The company? Your house?

01:37 My system: Todoist, with a folder called LTS (long-term storage)

02:04 Borrowed the name from Amazon's…