Every day Quote by Mark McGuinness
““Covey’s solution is to prioritise work that is important but not urgent (the blue square in the diagram). Though this is hard to do on any given day, it is the only way to ensure you are making progress towards your own goals and dreams, instead of merely reacting to what other people throw at you. And over time, the more you are dealing with important things before they become urgent, the fewer ‘urgent and important’ tasks you will have to deal with. The most obvious way to do this is to work on your own projects first every day, even if it’s only for half an hour. Whatever interruptions come along later, you will at least have the satisfaction of having made some progress towards your own goals.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, 1989
Focus on important‑but‑not‑urgent tasks to advance personal goals rather than merely reacting to crises.
In simple terms: Prioritize important work before it becomes urgent.
Key Takeaway
Schedule time for personal projects daily.
Themes
productivity
goal‑setting
time management
Mood
determined
focused
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- daily planning
- project work
- interruptions
- goal tracking
Key Concepts
Eisenhower Matrix
habit formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you protect your important‑but‑not‑urgent time?
- What habits help you say no to interruptions?
A Different Perspective
Urgent demands may still crowd out planned work.
