However, some people have trouble getting motivated while thinking only of their own benefit-something that Covey addresses in a roundabout way when he notes that our roles only exist in terms of other people (parent, teacher, employee, and so on). Make a list of your roles (try to keep the number of roles to seven or fewer).įor many people, envisioning and then creating the life that they want for themselves is the most powerful motivation imaginable. That’s why you must identify and address each of your roles as you set your personal mission and manage your time to work toward that mission. Covey says that when people feel dissatisfied, it’s often because they excel in one or two roles at the expense of the others. Step 2: Identify Your RolesĮveryone has many different roles in life, such as spouse, son or daughter, brother or sister, father or mother, friend, professional, and individual. For instance, if you’re in the market for a new car and suddenly notice car ads everywhere, Kwik would say it’s because your mind is looking for the answer to your current dominant question (“Which car should I get?”). Limitless author Jim Kwik calls these types of thoughts dominant questions: difficult or complicated questions that prime your mind to look for answers or relevant information. We also include connections to other self-help books and business strategy guides to help you maximize your potential, both individually and as part of a group. In this guide, we link Covey’s ideas to books and articles about leadership, spirituality, and even biology to help you determine what’s most important to you and why. You’ll learn how to identify your priorities, schedule your time at the daily and weekly levels, and collaborate with others to ensure the best possible results for everyone.

Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, presents a time management approach that focuses on priorities, or “first things.” This approach teaches you to use your time effectively instead of just efficiently-in other words, focusing on what you spend your time on, rather than just how much time you spend per task.

Do you feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? That you’re constantly checking things off your to-do list but still don’t have enough time for the important things? Your problem might be that you’re doing a lot, but not doing the right things.

Stephen covey pdf