First Things First was written by businessman turned author Stephen R. Covey and revolves around rethinking approaches to time management; it can help you understand why so often our first things aren’t first.

The author, Stephen R. Covey, is known globally for his bestselling book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, which has sold over 15 million copies to date and was named the n

Number 1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century.

Covey was been an entrepreneur and leadership expert of international repute, with ideas that were so influential that many multinational companies had adopted them. Even world leaders like Bill Clinton, are known to be followers of his work and methodology.

His other books include ‘The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness‘, ‘Principle-Centred Leadership’ and Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People: Living the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Every Day.

What does First Things First do?

The basic principle of the book is that there is always time for the things which matter most if you identify priorities. This will maximise your effectiveness and efficiency.

This clear and in-depth analysis could be a real game-changer for anyone who wants an alternative to traditional guides and advice on time management.

The book includes a comprehensive exploration of existing approaches to the management and organisation of one’s time, some of which may already be familiar. Each one is investigated thoroughly to identify their core principles with a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages.

This helps to give an idea of which approaches are the most effective but, more specifically, the precise components that make them effective.

Equipped with the knowledge of things that work well in other approaches to time management, Covey enters a balanced discussion of his own idea. He draws on things that have a proven record of being successful and combines ideas into a single approach which you can adopt for organising your own time.

Identifying useful tools

In his discussion of how he came to develop his own approach, Covey introduces a number of tools he uses to optimise his time management.

One key tool is the Eisenhower Matrix, which is often known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, which helps prioritise tasks in terms of urgency and importance.

This enables you to identify the least urgent and important tasks so they can be delegated, or not done at all. This is a similar concept to the Issues List and To Dos in the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Acknowledging the importance of existing methods

Covey also discusses related approaches to time management. The most significant of these is the ABC method, a powerful priority-setting technique that can be applied to the daily operations of any company. It involves identifying ‘A’ tasks, which are the top priority, ‘B’ or ‘secondary’ tasks, and the ‘C’ tasks which would be nice to get done but are not absolutely imperative.

This is simple, but really effective, and Covey is quick to acknowledge its importance to his own approach.

A superb read for entrepreneurial success

First Things First was originally published in 1994, and it has sold several million copies. It effectively builds on some of the ideas established in Covey’s previous book, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’.

It aims to show readers how to be as effective and efficient as possible and provides all the information needed to understand the method and incorporate it into one’s life.

The book was quite radical in its departure from conventional advice about time management, which typically emphasised speed and control. Instead, the focus is on results, and on the personal goals of the individuals involved, which provides greater overall satisfaction and fulfilment of tasks.

First Things First offers an approach to time management based on life values, and provides methods for achieving maximum effectiveness, balance, and personal peace.

To find out more about the EOS tools which can help prioritise tasks and enable to take control of your business, give us a call on +44 (0)7795 667480