--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where you are headed is more important…" description: "\"Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really impo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/stephen-covey-339_focus_where-you-are-headed-is-more-important-t_2201800.png" --- # Where you are headed is more important than how fast you… ![“Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/stephen-covey-339_focus_where-you-are-headed-is-more-important-t_2201800.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/stephen-covey-339_focus_where-you-are-headed-is-more-important-t_2201800.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/stephen-covey-339_focus_where-you-are-headed-is-more-important-t_2201800.png) > “Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term direction matters more than speed; prioritize importance over urgency. **In simple terms:** Focus on important goals, not just speed. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful progress. Themes productivity prioritization focus Mood motivational strategic Type self‑help leadership When to use this quote - project planning - daily routines Key Concepts time management goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What is your most important long‑term goal? - How do you differentiate urgent vs important? A Different Perspective Urgency can distract from true goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Time management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-management/) ## Related quotes > [Experience has taught me how important it is to just keep going, focusing on running fast and relaxed. 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But I see the creativity and the work that goes into building a network, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiri-appleby/right-now-my-focus-is-really-acting-and-directing-but-i-see-the/) [Shiri Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiri-appleby/) > [You have to be a really talented writer if you're trying to encapsulate a news story with a song and have it live after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babatunde-adebimpe/you-have-to-be-a-really-talented-writer-if-you-re-trying-to/) [Babatunde Adebimpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babatunde-adebimpe/) > [“Life is short. Focus on what really matters most. You have to change your priorities over time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/life-is-short-focus-on-what-really-matters-most-you-have-to-change/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [Take a Deep Breath & Focus on What's Really Important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/take-a-deep-breath-focus-on-what-s-really-important/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [I'm mentally getting myself ready to talk about it all year long because I know it's going to come. My main focus is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-calvillo/i-m-mentally-getting-myself-ready-to-talk-about-it-all-year-long/) Anthony Calvillo > [You just have to focus on what's really important in life, and that's your friends and your family and the life that you build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/you-just-have-to-focus-on-what-s-really-important-in-life-and-that-s/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [Rather than focusing on where you thought you'd be in your relationship or life, focus on where you really are at the moment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rather-than-focusing-on-where-you-thought-you-d-be-in-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For many people in the music conservatory world, the message was always, Focus! 'You can't do everything; you really need to specialize.' And especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/for-many-people-in-the-music-conservatory-world-the-message-was/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) > [To hate is to show you still care, who needs that, focus on what's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/to-hate-is-to-show-you-still-care-who-needs-that-focus-on-what-s/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Our busy lives force us to focus on things we do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/our-busy-lives-force-us-to-focus-on-things-we-do-from-day-to-day-but/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [When you're one-dimensional, someone can just focus on that and really stop that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taysom-hill/when-you-re-one-dimensional-someone-can-just-focus-on-that-and-really/) [Taysom Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taysom-hill/) > [I've never wanted to do just one thing. I don't have an attention span for that. I can focus really well on one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/i-ve-never-wanted-to-do-just-one-thing-i-don-t-have-an-attention-span/) [Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/) > [The album requires a certain focus of mine that I can't really explain - let's just say it's all I can really do while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/the-album-requires-a-certain-focus-of-mine-that-i-can-t-really/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. 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