The Basics
This habit from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People focuses on prioritizing and executing tasks around your most important principles and goals, rather than reacting to urgent but unimportant matters or being driven by external demands
What is Put First Things First?
Covey’s Time Management Matrix has this many quadrants.
Four
Covey’s “big rocks” metaphor teaches you to put these in first.
most important priorities
Covey recommends organizing your life around these.
key roles
Covey says we must sometimes do this to less important things.
say no
What two things does “First Things First” prioritize tasks around?
your principles and goals
Quadrant I activities are both urgent and important — name one example.
Crisis, emergency meetings, last minute deadlines, pressing problems, unforeseen events (answers may vary)
If you fill your jar with sand first, there’s no room for these.
the big rocks
What is one example of a personal role a student might have?
student, friend, family member, team member, self (answers may vary)
Many people are addicted to this feeling — constantly reacting to crises.
urgency addiction
What word describes organizing and acting on priorities rather than reacting to what seems urgent?
Self-discipline
Quadrant II activities are not urgent but important — give one example.
Proactive Work, Important goals, Creative thinking, Planning and prevention, Relationship building, Learning and renewal, Recreation (answers may vary)
This phrase describes planning your most meaningful activities before smaller tasks.
"scheduling priorities, not prioritizing your schedule"
Setting goals for each role weekly helps ensure this.
balance and progress
Learning to manage expectations and distractions helps you live in this quadrant.
Quadrant II
What type of effectiveness does covey say you should focus on? (Doing what’s right, not just doing things fast)
effectiveness over efficiency
Most people spend too much time in these two quadrants.
What are Quadrants I and III?
Big rocks often include these key areas of your life.
family time, studying, exercising, major projects
Example of a goal for the “Self” role.
exercise or self-improvement activity
Covey recommends this rhythm for planning.
weekly planning
According to Covey, leadership comes before this.
management
Highly effective people focus on this quadrant.
Quadrant II
The “big rocks” metaphor symbolizes this key skill.
time management based on values
Aligning daily actions with your long-term mission builds this quality.
integrity
This quote sums up Habit 3: “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to _______.”
schedule your priorities