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First Things First

The Big Idea

The best-selling author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” sheds light on the perennial problem of personal time management, and achieving the balance between nurturing rich relationships while maintaining a career. Changing our paradigms from “getting the urgent things done” as the First Things in our lives, Covey enlightens us on how we can see where True North is on our life compass. It isn’t about how fast you’re going; it’s where you’re headed that matters. Understand these lessons and organize your priorities so you spend more time on the real First Things in life.

Introduction

The First key things to understand are:

• We are not in control of our lives. We can choose to let our daily life be governed by principles, rather than a clock.
• Leading a principle-centered life means not taking any shortcuts or quick fixes. You must follow a path that focuses on why you are doing things rather than how fast or efficiently you are getting things done.
• Be willing to examine your life, your motives, and your First Things.

Section One: The Clock and the Compass

1. How many people on their deathbed wish they’d spent more time at the office?

Everyone wants a piece of your time. Somewhere between your personal vision and daily actions, a gap is created between what you feel you should be doing and what you are actually accomplishing.

The enemy of “best” is “good”.

What is the best use of your time? Is it meeting urgent needs, or focusing on the real vision? What is best for you? Are too many good things getting in the way? The result of putting too many good things ahead of best things is the unsettling feeling we are not putting First Things First in our lives.

Two powerful tools direct us:

• The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, and activities.
• The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission, conscience, direction, and what we feel is important- how we lead our lives.. . . . . . . .