by Arthur Worsley
M.A. Psychology, Oxford. McKinsey Alum. Founder & Editor at TAoL.

1 MINUTE READ

First Things First (1993)

by Stephen Covey

Paperback | Ebook | Audiobook

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One-Sentence Summary

First Things First is an action-oriented time-management manual, filled with frameworks and exercises to help you do more of what matters and less of what doesn't - by the author of the #1 book on this list, Stephen Covey. (384 pages)

Contents

1. One-Sentence Summary

2. First Things First Summary

3. First Things First Contents

4. Best First Things First Quotes

6. Wish There Was a Faster/Easier Way?

Note: This First Things First summary is part of an ongoing project to summarise the Best Productivity Books and Best Self Help Books of all time.

Note: This First Things First summary is a stub. I'll write a full summary later. For now, you'll find enough meta-data here to help you decide if it's worth reading the book.

First Things First Summary

This publisher’s blurb comes from the Pocket Books 2002 paperback edition of First Things First…

“In the first real breakthrough in time management in years, Stephen R. Covey and A. Roger Merrill apply the insights of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to the daily problems of people who must struggle with the ever-increasing demands of work and home life.

First Things First shows:

Why your previous attempts to manage time failed
What the connections are between time management and money management
How to delegate without losing control
How to rediscover your power and passion
How to lead your life, not just manage your time.

With the wisdom and insight that made The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People a bestseller, First Things First will empower you to define what is truly important; to accomplish worthwhile goals; and to lead rich, rewarding and balanced lives.”

First Things First Contents

First Things First has 15 main chapters (in 4 sections) and 3 appendices…

Introduction

Section One: The Clock and the Compass

How Many People on Their Deathbed Wish They’d Spent More Time at the Office?
The Urgency Addiction
To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy

Section Two: The Main Thing Is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Quadrant II Organizing: The Process of Putting First Things First
The Passion of Vision
The Balance of Roles
The power of Goals
The Perspective of the Week
Integrity in the Moment of Choice
Learning from Living

Section Three: The Synergy of Interdependence

The Interdependent Reality
First Things First Together
Empowerment from the Inside Out

Section Four: The Power and Peace of Principle-Centered Living

From Time Management to Personal Leadership
The Peace of the Results

Epilogue

Appendices

Appendix A: Mission Statement Workshop
Appendix B: A Review of Time Management Literature
Appendix C: The Wisdom Literature

Best First Things First Quotes

These First Things First quotes come from The Art of Living's ever-growing central library of thoughts, anecdotes, notes, and inspirational quotes.

"We are free to choose our actions... but we are not free to choose the consequences of these actions."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"It’s not enough to dream. It’s not enough to try. It’s not enough to set goals or climb ladders. It’s not enough to value. The effort has to be based on practical realities that produce the result. Only then can we dream, set goals, and work to achieve them with confidence."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

Best First Things First Quotes: It’s not enough to dream. It’s not enough to try. It’s not enough to set goals or climb ladders. It’s not enough to value. The effort has to be based on practical realities that produce the result. Only then can we dream, set goals, and work to achieve them with confidence.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"What we believe about ourselves and our purpose has a powerful impact on how we live, how we love, and what we learn."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"A meaningful life is not a matter of speed or efficiency. It’s much more a matter of what you do and why you do it, than how fast you get it done."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"Basing our happiness on our ability to control everything is futile. While we do control our choice of action, we cannot control the consequences of our choices."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"Doing more things faster is no substitute for doing the right things."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"Urgency addiction is a self-destructive behavior that temporarily fills the void created by unmet needs. And instead of meeting these needs, the tools and approaches of time management often feed the addiction. They keep us focused on daily prioritization of the urgent."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"When we talk about time management, it seems ridiculous to worry about speed before direction, about saving minutes when we may be wasting years."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

"More important than how fast you’re going, is where you’re headed."

- Stephen Covey, First Things First

Read More: 5 Books Like First Things First

Enjoyed this First Things First summary? You might enjoy the rest of the books on these lists of the Best Productivity Books and Best Self Help Books of all time.

And in the meantime...

Here are 5 top books like First Things First...

Books Like First Things First: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey (FREE Summary)

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a perennial masterpiece on leading a happy, productive and purposeful existence and an unmissable stop for any pilgrim of personal improvement - by educator, author and speaker, Stephen Covey.

Published 1989 // 372 pages // Rated 4.1 over 623,800 reviews on Goodreads

2. Goals! - Brian Tracy (FREE Summary)

How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

Goals! was the first book I ever read on productivity and probably the most readable and complete guide to goal-setting ever written - by sales legend and time-management master, Brian Tracy.

Published 1989 // 291 pages // Rated 4.2 over 14,200 reviews on Goodreads

Books Like First Things First: The Effective Executive

3. The Effective Executive - Peter F. Drucker (FREE Summary)

The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

The Effective Executive is THE timeless classic on leadership and management; on getting the right things done - by the dean of business and management philosophy, Peter F. Drucker.

Published 1966 // 208 pages // Rated 4.1 over 32,700 reviews on Goodreads

Books Like First Things First: The Slight Edge

4. The Slight Edge - Jeff Olson (FREE Summary)

Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success & Happiness

The Slight Edge is a short, punchy, practical guide to the why, what and how of using simple daily disciplines to achieve breakthrough success - by serial entrepreneur, speaker and author, Jeff Olson.

Published 2005 // 168 pages // Rated 4.3 over 21,900 reviews on Goodreads

Books Like First Things First: The Compound Effect

5. The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy (FREE Summary)

Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success

The Compound Effect offers a concise, practical guide to mastering small choices that determine big outcomes which dictate the course of your life - by best selling author, publisher and motivational speaker, Darren Hardy.

Published 2010 // 162 pages // Rated 4.2 over 39,400 reviews on Goodreads

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