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Summary: The one I had been waiting for! Life changing advice
Review: I first read this book when the hardcover edition was first published, to the best of my recollection we are talking about 5 years ago. Before then I had read almost every book written on time management. The only thing I learned from them was that they all basically gave the same advice, and very little of it was helpful. Meanwhile I was still getting bogged down in little tasks and piles of papers, instead of living my dreams.This book provided the direction I needed. When I first read about writing a personal mission statement, I did not believe I could write a one page document, never have to revise it, and still be guided by it for a lifetime. Well I was wrong, and they were right! When life gets crazy, I can usually find the answers in my mission statement, or in this book Thank you Dr. Covey
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Summary: A book for everyone
Review: I found it by accident, at first I thought it was an interesting book.
I later found out that it helped me change the way I live and give me a new perspective on just about everything.
I sincerely recommend it
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Summary: Read "7 Habits" again instead of this book
Review: I found this book a waste of time. This was a poor rehash of 7 Habits. 7 Habits I think is important reading and I have read it 7 or 8 times over the years. I often give it as a gift to friends I feel would find it of value but "First Things" not only didn't impress me but I couldn't read it.
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Summary: An unexpected life-changer
Review: I have to get a couple of things out of the way right now to make you understand why this book has been so important to me (and could be to you as well). First, I am definitely someone who shuns most self-help tomes--I think most of them are crutches for weak people too lazy to get their acts together or too clueless to embrace a little common sense. Second, my prior experiences with the Covey cult were less than satisfying, as I had a boss (now departed) who talked the Covey talk but did not (I now see) truly walk the walk. This book differs from the _7 Habits_ texts in that it really deals with taking the general Covey concepts ("principle-centered living") and giving them a practical sheen--in this case by applying them to time management. Learning to divide my activities between "urgent" and "important," planning my life around certain "roles" that I have to fill, and composing a "mission statement" (a much more realistic and helpful version of year 2000 New Year's resolutions for me)--these were the concepts that have really helped me organize my life as efficiently as possible (and I was already pretty organized). I highly recommend buying the book and then following up by getting a Franklin Covey planner, where you can take the lessons from the book and start building your time and life around them. I have loaned the book to several friends and students (I teach high school) and all of them have benefitted from it in some way or another. Buying _First Things First_ will be one of the best things you can do for yourself. And I can't believe I just wrote a positive review of a self-help book. Trust me on how helpful this book can be.
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Summary: Why do we complicate our lives?
Review: I started reading through this and thought to myself: "are there actually people out there that have complicated their lives to the point of needing something like this to help them?"
Really. Think about that. If your family isnt number one on your list and you spend too much time working late and missing out on the most important things in life then you simply need to look ahead a few years and think of what you could or could not miss out on and what regrets you may have. Slow down Americans. We are driving ourselves mad to be a part of the machine.
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Summary: Why do we complicate our lives?
Review: I started reading through this and thought to myself: "are there actually people out there that have complicated their lives to the point of needing something like this to help them?"
Really. Think about that. If your family isnt number one on your list and you spend too much time working late and missing out on the most important things in life then you simply need to look ahead a few years and think of what you could or could not miss out on and what regrets you may have. Slow down Americans. We are driving ourselves mad to be a part of the machine.
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Summary: "First Things First"
Review: In this book, Covey takes on the widely popular time management systems. He shows that simply managing your tasks more efficiently does not make you happier or brings you deep fulfillment. He helps the reader to discover what is really important to them, and to move from being busy getting stuff done to being fulfilled doing meaningful things. Anybody who feels like something is missing in their life DESPITE their enormously successful career might find this book a wake-up call. A reminder of what really matters, a guide towards greater fulfillment.
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Summary: A New Type of Palm Pilot
Review: In today's workplace, managers are increasingly asked to do more projects with fewer resources in less time. Little wonder that "time management" has become a thriving cottage industry, signalled by the now nearly ubiquitous Day Planners and Palm Pilots. In First Things First, the husband and wife team of Roger and Rebecca Merrill propose an alternative to traditional time management techniques, providing a internal compass to determine what direction one should go. The Merrills assert that "time management" focuses on efficiency and ensures that we arrive at our destination at a specified time. But what if we are going in the wrong direction? What is the desire destination? In the text, the Merrills engage the reader in exercises to determine her true principles and interests. In this way, time can be spent on "not urgent" but "important" tasks that are often neglected to "urgent" tasks that may not correspond to our desired goals. In particular, the Merrills ask that the reader create roles for herself that correspond with that her interests or occupation (e.g. wife, manager, chairman, entrepreneur, artist, etc). Then, for each role, the reader should indicate specific goals and the requirements for accomplishing those goals. In this way, the most important tasks get done, and not only urgent, crisis-driven activities. Often there is conflict between roles: too many roles associated with a fixed set of resources (energy, time, and money). The Merrills suggest that individuals try to create synergies between roles, ensuring that they share one's principles and mission. First Things First should be particularly helpful for those who feel aimless in their actions, and feel dissatisfied with their lives despite their seeming productivity. Overall this is a book worth purchasing. Plan to dedicate at least several hours to introspection to truly benefit from the text. Paul Erdos
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Summary: The simpliest things are not so simple
Review: It sounds so easy; make first things first. That is like saying, save your money and don't get into debt. As the great Denis Waitley says: "Most people do what is tension relieving rather than goal achieving." How many times have you lamented: "I never was so busy, time flew by bt I didn't get anything done"? This book addresses the issues of getting First things First-DONE. And Covey does a better job at this than anybody.I also recommend "The Psychology of Winning" by Denis Waitley.
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Summary: Excellent resource for learning to leave the rat race
Review: Join the human race by establishing a life based on your principle and not by the clock of someone else. This book serves as a handbook for anyone choosing to leave the treadmill behind--finding your true mission in life and living it fully. I wish the whole world would buy this book and read it. I'm ready to start living and stop existing, if you are too, then add this one to your shopping cart today
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