Habit 3, Put First Things First, is where planning meets action. It is the physical creation—the practical application—of the principles and values established through Habit 1 and Habit 2. As Stephen Covey writes, “Habit 3 is the personal fruit, the practical fulfillment of Habits 1 and 2.” This habit is all about self-management. It involves exercising independent will to prioritize what truly matters and to follow through with integrity, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
“Effective management is putting first things first. While leadership decides what ‘first things’ are, it is management that puts them first, day-by-day, moment-by-moment.”
The Time Matrix: Urgency vs. Importance
A cornerstone of Habit 3 is Covey’s Time Matrix, which categorizes activities based on two factors: urgency and importance.
– Quadrant I: Urgent and important tasks (crises, pressing problems)
– Quadrant II: Not urgent but important tasks (relationship building, long-term planning)
– Quadrant III: Urgent but not important tasks (interruptions, other people’s priorities)
– Quadrant IV: Not urgent and not important tasks (time-wasters, distractions)
Most people spend their time reacting to Quadrants I and III, putting out fires and addressing urgent demands. However, Covey emphasizes that the greatest growth and effectiveness come from focusing on Quadrant II. He explains, “Quadrant II is the heart of effective personal management. It deals with things like building relationships, writing a personal mission statement, long-range planning, exercising, and preparation.” By investing time in Quadrant II, we prevent crises, align with our values, and create lasting results.
The Challenge of Self-Management
Living Habit 3 requires discipline. It’s not just about managing time but about managing ourselves. “In other words, if you are an effective manager of yourself, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.” It’s about subordinating impulses and distractions to your deeper purpose and values. As Covey explains, “The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.”
Practical Application
To begin implementing Habit 3, Covey suggests asking yourself two questions:
- What one thing could you do that you aren’t doing now, that would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life?
- What one thing in your business or professional life would bring similar results?
By identifying activities in Quadrant II and committing to them, you can take significant steps toward personal and professional effectiveness.
“Our effectiveness takes quantum leaps when we do them.”
Beyond Time Management
Covey critiques traditional time management approaches that focus solely on efficiency. He highlights the importance of prioritizing relationships, values, and results over rigid scheduling.
“The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.”
True effectiveness lies in maintaining the balance between production and production capability (P/PC Balance) and focusing on what contributes to long-term success and fulfillment.
Questions to Ponder:
- Which quadrant in the Time Matrix do you spend the most time in, and how does it affect your productivity and satisfaction?
- What is one Quadrant II activity you’ve been meaning to prioritize, and what’s stopping you?
- How do you currently manage the balance between urgent demands and important goals?
