First Things First by Stephen R. Covey — Summary + The Anti-Hustle Playbook
TL;DR Summary
First Things First isn’t about doing more stuff—it’s about doing the right stuff. Stephen Covey (yep, the 7 Habits guy) teams up with Roger and Rebecca Merrill to burn productivity porn to the ground and teach you time alignment, not just time management.
The goal? Live a life driven by values, not your notifications.
Big Ideas (Like a Time Management Detox)
Urgent ≠ Important. Most of what stresses you out isn’t actually essential.
You’re not “too busy”—you’re misaligned. Harsh, but true.
Put your big rocks in first. Or there’s no room left.
Schedule your priorities instead of prioritizing your schedule.
The compass > the clock. Where you’re headed matters more than how fast.
Timeless Principle → Modern Upgrade
| Timeless Principle | Modern Upgrade |
|---|---|
| “Prioritize what matters most” | Block your calendar around your core values, not just tasks |
| “Say no to the good to say yes to the great” | Your time is your capital—invest, don’t spend |
| “Live with purpose” | Design your weeks around mission, not dopamine loops |
| “Discipline equals freedom” | Freedom = structure with soul |
| “Manage your time” | Actually, lead your life |
Why It Matters for Young Entrepreneurs
Startups are time vampires. Your energy is limited. If you don’t ruthlessly protect what matters, everything urgent will eat your actual goals.
First Things First is a system to:
Escape “busy trap” culture
Build a life around your why, not someone else’s when
Stop reacting and start architecting
This is the productivity gospel after you’ve burned out on hustle culture.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself After Reading
What’s truly important that I’ve been avoiding because it’s not “urgent”?
If I had 1 hour a day for only the essential, what would I do?
Is my calendar a reflection of my values—or my stress?
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
If You Liked This, Check Out:
[Essentialism by Greg McKeown] – Minimalism for your mental load
[The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy] – Stack small habits into big results
[Deep Work by Cal Newport] – For those ready to quit multitasking forever]
