Putting First Things First

What is the one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results in your personal life?

Why aren’t you doing it?

Activities usually fall into two categories; urgent and important. Urgent means that it requires immediate attention. Importance is driven more by results. If you view an activity as something important, it directly contributes to your values and your goals.

It’s so entertaining watching people get themselves stuck in Quadrant I activities, feeling burnt out all day from an endless amount of problems. And when they have some free time, they can’t help but be in Quadrant IV just to relieve themselves of the stress. People in Quadrant III believe they are taking care of urgent matters, yet in truth, what they are doing is not truly important to them. They are simply reacting to social pressures and doing whatever it is everyone is asking of them to do. And the result is, most people will say “I have too much to do, and not enough time to do it all.”

So what’s the answer?

Being in Quadrant II takes proactivity. The most important step is having a clear vision on what it is you truly want to achieve. It’s not how fast your going, but where your going. Once you have your priorities set, then you have a foundation on which to put first things first. What will make the biggest difference is learning to see all of your activities in terms of their importance. Realize that the enemy of the “best” is the “good”. You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage to say no to Quadrant III and IV activities that will take your time. There will always be emergencies, but as you spend more time in Quadrant II, you will find less time is spent in Quadrant I. As more time is spent in what you feel is important, then the quality of your life starts to get better.

So how do you get into Quadrant II?

The real secret is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. And the most effective way to do this is in the context of a week. Ask yourself, what is really important? Then, identify what it is you want to accomplish in the long run, which is where having a personal mission statement comes in handy. Now decide what results you would like to see in the next seven days. You can now look at the week ahead with your vision in mind and schedule the necessary time to achieve those goals.

Take a good look at what you want to achieve. and what your passion is. There is ALWAYS time for what you want to do. Learn to say no to things that other people ask of you that isn’t really important. Every sunday night, I review my goals and review the week and see if I’ve achieved the results I’ve wanted. If not, I ask myself why. If I did, then I feel great about it, and set new goals for the next week. The most important thing is I feel my roles are in balance and that I know what’s most important to me. Yes, there are still emergencies that occur, but since I’ve found my true north, then I can dilligently work towards that direction. I have found time to work towards my goals without feeling anxious about it. I’ve been happier in the past month reading this book, then I have ever in my entire life.

If you get the chance check out Stephen Covey’s First Things First. life changing!