A description of needs divided in all four dimensions described above (physical, mental, social and spiritual).A contribution to a higher goal than yourself.The tool which can be used to help defining what is important to person is to write down a so called ´personal mission statement´ which include the following
The next step in setting priorities is then HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT STUFF IS IMPORTANT.
The big rocks symbolize the activities that are important to you on the long term and should be planned in your calendar before anything else, because like with the water in the pot: there will be no time for the important stuff left if you put the urgent unimportant stuff first. Note that it could be possible to fill the pot entirely with water, and it would be impossible to add big rocks to the pot, because it would overflow. finally, you will find that there is still room for some water, the unimportant, non-urgent matters.add sand to the pot to fill the little pieces of space in between, the urgent, unimportant matters.Then add up as many gravel as possible, important and urgent matters.put the big rocks in first, which represent important, non-urgent matters.To work according to Covey´s standards is to: The most famous metaphor for this is the pot with rocks, gravel, sand and water. Naturally, people tent to do urgent stuff first, which is a dangerous way or working because as long as there is enough urgency, there will never be time to start working on the important stuff. The foundation of setting the right priorities lies in the principle of PUTTING IMPORTANT STUFF FIRST. Covey describes the metaphor in which a garden can only be beautiful if there is a gardener who is taking care of it. The most important aspect of successfully prioritizing anything, is taking the time to reflect on your past actions and think about what actions you would like to do next. Part two describes THE POWER OF PRIORITIZING. The idea is that problems within one of the areas can partly be balanced out by focusing on one of the other three. These four areas are overlapping and the center in which all needs come together is called ´the fire within´. Spiritual needs, rendition and contribution.Social needs, to love and to maintain relationships.Physical needs, like clothing and nourishment.To be able to set the right priority, FOUR AREAS OF HUMAN NEEDS are described on which we can focus ourselves: This 4 th generation of time management is what covey defines as Time management based on principles. We should all strive to do the things that add value to our lives, things that make us happier. Setting priorities is the next step in a happier life. People who work efficiently are just as happy as people who work inefficiently. Covey argues that no one has ever become a happier person because he or she managed his or her time better. Even though you plan well or work according to your personal or organizational values, it is still possible to do unimportant things. Priorities derive from values and goalsĪll three generations of theory lack the same thing: importance.Priorities are deducted from calendars and goals.In the first part of the book, SHORTCOMINGS OF TIME MANAGEMENT are discussed, based on three generations of theory: He compares the difference between efficiency and setting priorities with a compass and the clock: how fast you go is not as important as where you´re going. This is where Covey distinguishes himself from traditional time management theories which are designed around the efficiency of a task. No matter how efficient you do your work, if you´re doing the wrong thing, nothing will really improve.
In his book First Things First, Stephen Covey describes setting priorities as the most important aspect of successful (personal) improvement.