A Book Review: First Things First

I selected this book as my latest read as I was searching for a resource for understanding our personal values. A little research on Amazon led me to this book which was a more wonderful choice than I could have ever imagined. Not only does it help us identify what is important to us, it addresses why we feel so time-crunched and frustrated in our lives. This book was a “two-fer” for me. Most every client I work with seeks help and insight to relieve the pressure generated from living by the clock.

On a sad note, Mr. Covey passed away a week after I had purchased this book. According to press reports, his passing came as a result of injuries he sustained on a bike ride. I can only hope, and feel certain that this was the case, he was doing something he truly valued and enjoyed, when the unfortunate event occurred.

Which brings us to a great point: none of us ever know how much time we have left in this life as we know it. Wouldn’t we want to have each moment be as fulfilling and frustration-free as possible? We are not pie-in-the-sky dreamers, we have yet to create utopia, yet there are steps we can take to make sure we are getting to the things that matter most to us.

That is the first premise of this book; that one must understand what truly matters most. First things cannot be first if we do not know what they are. Our struggle comes when we sense a gap between what we are doing on a daily basis and where we want to go or be in a broader sense; when we are guided by the clock instead of the compass.

If you have not already invested the energy to develop a vision and mission statement, then this is an excellent resource to help you do so. This is how we get at what it truly meaningful for us thus creating alignment with our daily activities and our long-term goals.

The book does address the “how-to” of organizing your life – on a daily and weekly basis, keeping your vision and mission top of mind. If you did nothing but read the book, i.e., you did not implement any of the great ideas and tools, you would still experience a shift in how you view and live your life.

If you are looking for a “how-to” technique book on organizing files and managing e-mail, this is not for you. If however, you are looking for a way to pull your life into balance, to work toward and live the values that truly matter to you, to develop personal leadership that will inspire and uplift you, your life and all those you touch, then this is a must–read for you.

Previous PostNext Post

Share this Post