Live With Intention

7/7/25

Live With Intention

"Put first things first."
- Stephen R. Covey

Live Your Vision

What if the secret to living your best life isn’t doing more? What if it is about only choosing to act on those activities that truly matter?

In a world constantly demanding your attention: urgent messages, busy calendars, endless to-do lists. It’s easy to lose sight of what really counts. But Covey's timeless wisdom, “Put first things first,” is a powerful quote that can help you realign with your true self, your deepest values, and the life you were born to live.

Prioritize

“Put first things first” is the third habit in Covey’s groundbreaking book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It follows:

1. Be Proactive – Realize that you are the creator of your experience.

2. Begin with the End in Mind – Define your vision. Know where you’re going.

Habit 3 challenges you to live in alignment with that vision.

It’s not about reacting to every demand that shows up in your inbox or calendar. It’s about choosing, every day, to prioritize the things that move your life forward.

Big Rocks - Build Your Life with Intention

One of the most powerful illustrations Stephen R. Covey offers is the “big rocks” metaphor. It is a simple and visual lesson that can completely transform the way you approach your time, energy, and priorities.

Imagine you have a large glass jar, and next to it, you have a collection of big rocks, small pebbles, and sand. If you start by pouring in the sand, then add the pebbles, you’ll quickly find there’s no room for the big rocks. But if you begin by placing the big rocks into the jar first, then the pebbles, and finally the sand, everything fits.

This metaphor reveals a deep truth about how most of us live. The sand represents the endless stream of distractions: phone calls, notifications, emails, texts, social media, meaningless tasks, and mindless routines that eat up our day. The pebbles are the things that feel productive but aren't deeply important: meetings, minor errands, surface-level commitments, and low-priority obligations. But the big rocks, they are the things that truly matter. They are the cornerstones of your life.

They are the things that align with the person that you want to be. They support your Vision and your Values and consist of:

• Your health - because you can't pour from an empty cup

• Your relationships - because love and connection are the most important aspects of life

• Your personal growth - because your best future requires your best self

• Your life’s mission - because fulfillment only comes when you live in alignment with your purpose.

• Your faith, creativity, contribution, and dreams - the things that light your spirit on fire and give your life deeper meaning

If you don’t put those big rocks in first, you’ll always be too busy with the sand. And when that happens, your health and relationships deteriorate, you stop growing and you stop living your values.

Covey’s message is clear:

Don’t prioritize your schedule. Schedule your priorities.

When you focus on your highest values, when you carve out time for what’s truly important, even if the world is shouting with distractions. You start building a life that’s not just busy, but a life that is meaningful - a life that’s not just full, but one that is fulfilling.

Putting first things first is about reclaiming control over your life story. It is about choosing to be the author of your time rather than a passive reader of your obligations.

Alignment - How to Put First Things First

Living this habit begins with clarity, followed by courageous choices, and then consistent action.

Here’s how to bring this principle to life each day:

1. Identify Your Big Rocks

Take a step back and ask:

• What are the things that truly matter to me?

• What actions align with my deepest values, purpose, and goals?
  Your big rocks might be spending time with family, deep work on your mission, nurturing your health, or making space for your spirituality or creativity.

Tip: Write down your top 3 - 5 big rocks each week. These are your non-negotiables.

2. Schedule Your Priorities

Once you know what matters, block time for it. Don’t leave your most important work to chance or try to “squeeze it in.”

Put the big rocks on your calendar first.
Let everything else fill in the spaces around them.

3. Learn to Say “No” with Purpose

Every “yes” to something less important is a “no” to your bigger vision.
Protect your time and energy like your future depends on it - because it does.

"If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster." – Covey

4. Use the Time Matrix (Covey's Quadrants)

Organize your activities into four quadrants:

• Quadrant 1 - Important & Urgent

• Quadrant 2 - Important & Not Urgent

• Quadrant 3 - Not Important & Urgent

• Quadrant 4 - Not Important & Not Urgent

And then Live in Quadrant 2. This is where your long-term vision exists: through planning, reflection, and focused, intentional action. You will always need to work on Crises (Quadrant 1), but minimize the energy you spend on Quadrants 3 and 4.

5. Reflect, Adjust, Repeat

At the end of each week, ask yourself:

• Did I honor what matters most?

• Where did I drift, and how can I realign?

This isn't about perfection. It’s about awareness, ownership, and recommitment.

Putting first things first is not a to-do list technique. It is a mindset.
It’s about choosing your future every single day by aligning your actions with your values.

When you lead your life from the inside out, you stop reacting and start creating.
This is how you rise above the noise and live your truest, boldest, most authentic life.

The Educator

Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012) was a legendary author, educator, and leadership expert whose influence continues to shape millions around the world. Best known for his best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey’s legacy is built on principle-centered living, personal responsibility, and the power of intentional action. His teachings transcend professions and generations, inviting every one of us to lead lives of authenticity, purpose, and impact.