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First Things First [Paperback]

Stephen R. Covey (Author), A. Roger Merrill (Author), Rebecca R. Merrill (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What are the most important things in your life? Do they get as much care, emphasis, and time as you'd like to give them? Far from the traditional "be-more-efficient" time-management book with shortcut techniques, First Things First shows you how to look at your use of time totally differently. Using this book will help you create balance between your personal and professional responsibilities by putting first things first and acting on them. Covey teaches an organizing process that helps you categorize tasks so you focus on what is important, not merely what is urgent. First you divide tasks into these quadrants:
  1. Important and Urgent (crises, deadline-driven projects)
  2. Important, Not Urgent (preparation, prevention, planning, relationships)
  3. Urgent, Not Important (interruptions, many pressing matters)
  4. Not Urgent, Not Important (trivia, time wasters)

Most people spend most of their time in quadrants 1 and 3, while quadrant 2 is where quality happens. "Doing more things faster is no substitute for doing the right things," says Covey. He points you toward the real human needs--"to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy"--and how to balance your time to achieve a meaningful life, not just get things done. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly

This is the latest time-management book from the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Free Press (January 17, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684802031
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684802039
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #7,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #14 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Self-Esteem
    #9 in  Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management
    #8 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Authors, A-Z > Covey, Stephen R.

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Stephen R. Covey
Stephen R. Covey
A. Roger Merrill
A. Roger Merrill

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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WE'RE constantly making choices about the way we spend our time, from the major seasons to the individual moments in our lives. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
quality council, things first together, empowerment from the inside out, true north principles, weekly organizing, empowering mission statement, urgency addiction, deep inner lives, stewardship agreements, unique human endowments, weekly worksheet, space between stimulus, traditional time management, deep inner life, four endowments, interdependent reality, integrity account, social mirror, putting first things
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Circle of Influence, Personal Integrity Account, Laws of Life, Law of the Farm, Circle of Concern, Center of Focus, Urgent Not Urgent, Smith Team, We're Not Talking, Mount Olympus
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Customer Reviews

95 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (95 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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152 of 170 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected life-changer, January 22, 2000
This review is from: First Things First (Paperback)
I have to get a couple of things out of the way right now to make you understand why this book has been so important to me (and could be to you as well). First, I am definitely someone who shuns most self-help tomes--I think most of them are crutches for weak people too lazy to get their acts together or too clueless to embrace a little common sense. Second, my prior experiences with the Covey cult were less than satisfying, as I had a boss (now departed) who talked the Covey talk but did not (I now see) truly walk the walk. This book differs from the _7 Habits_ texts in that it really deals with taking the general Covey concepts ("principle-centered living") and giving them a practical sheen--in this case by applying them to time management. Learning to divide my activities between "urgent" and "important," planning my life around certain "roles" that I have to fill, and composing a "mission statement" (a much more realistic and helpful version of year 2000 New Year's resolutions for me)--these were the concepts that have really helped me organize my life as efficiently as possible (and I was already pretty organized). I highly recommend buying the book and then following up by getting a Franklin Covey planner, where you can take the lessons from the book and start building your time and life around them. I have loaned the book to several friends and students (I teach high school) and all of them have benefitted from it in some way or another. Buying _First Things First_ will be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

And I can't believe I just wrote a positive review of a self-help book. Trust me on how helpful this book can be.

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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars From Covey cynic to convert, June 29, 2001
By Marie Jones (Johnson City, TN United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: First Things First (Paperback)
I admit it, I was a Covey cynic. I hadn't read him, but had heard him quoted ad nauseum. Now, I'm a convert. This thoughtful book transforms bland time management techniques into tools for re-examining your life in terms of personalized mission statements. In this rushed world, the idea of deeply knowing what you want out of life and making sure that your activities fit in with that knowledge is radically different. Balance is emphasized, with that balance organized around your roles in life and real human needs, "to learn, to live, to love and to leave a legacy." Covey divides all activities into four quadrants: 1.Important and Urgent (crises, deadline-driven projects) 2.Important, Not Urgent (preparation, prevention, planning, relationships) 3.Urgent, Not Important (interruptions, many pressing matters) 4.Not Urgent, Not Important (trivia, time wasters)

The idea is to keep your activities primarily in the second category and to consciously choose activities because of what's important, not because of what's urgent. Covey et al also provide a list of the "Wisdom Literature" from around the world to help you ground your personal mission and life goals in the philosophies that have explored these ideas through the centuries. Don't try to read this book without allowing plenty of reflection time. After you've read the book, you'll allow plenty of reflection time for everything.

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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiritional and practical, June 14, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: First Things First (Paperback)
USA Today said that Stephen Covey is the hottest self-improvement consultant to hit U.S. business since Dale Carnegie and I agree. Covey is the best.

In First Things First, Covey discloses powerful time management techniques. What makes this book different from typical time management books and programs is that Covey shows you how to see the whole picture rather than tiny fragments of our lives.

Before reading and applying the techniques in First Things First, I would always lament

"I have too much to do---and not enough time to do it."
"I can't balance my personal life with my business life."
"There is too little of me and too much to do."
"I don't feel in controlof my life."
"Why do I feel so empty all the time."

What you won't find in this book is another daytimer program or another clock. Covey explains why it is more important to know where you are heading instead of how fast you are going. You won't find the old theory of working harder, faster, smarter and more, more, more. It's about effectiveness, not efficiency. And most importantly, it really works.

Thank you Dr. Covey!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!
Very practical application of the personal management habit described in the 7 habits.It presents the most useful framework for organizing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Frank O. Wallace Jr.

4.0 out of 5 stars Well presented
I find Stephen Covey's work extremely practical and logical. If only our world could operate on his principles we would be far better off. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dr. Gunta M. Caldwell

5.0 out of 5 stars You quickly realize you have become caught in the "thick of thin things" and how to rectify it.
You quickly realize you have become caught in the "thick of thin things" and how to rectify it. A life long habit of improvement and prioritization will stem from this book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tony J. Ridley

5.0 out of 5 stars First Things First
I found this book to be extremely helpful. It provides a framework for success that also demands a balanced living approach. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Shaun Brodison

1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely poor quality
If I recall, the book was listed as good or very good condition. It was extremely old. Pages were not just yellowed, they were brown and so fragile that some were broken away in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Beverly D McAdams

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
This book is a good book and great in achieving and organizing time throughout your daily life. It teaches one how to manage their time effectively and how to appreciate the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lakeisha C. Mcqueen

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have
I read this book back in 1997, when I was still struggling to decide which major to take in college. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Andrew Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this book. Time is money!
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by little things, frustrated with traditional time management, and in need of some tools to bring clearer focus... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ethan Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on time management I have ever read.
This is a great book to read for those of us who juggle life. It talks about how to prioritize and how to over come Urgency Addition. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Northern Sally

3.0 out of 5 stars It's painful to read. You should read it.
I'll try to describe this book in as short a summary as possible:

It has some very great advice and techniques for time-management. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Amin Ariana

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