Stephen R. Covey and 2 more
First Things First
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:
Important and Urgent (crises, deadline-driven projects)Important, Not Urgent (preparation, prevention, planning, relationships)Urgent, Not Important (interruptions, many pressing matters)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