Put First Things First

Have you ordered and read your copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?

Green Belt…

Today, we will take a look at Habit 3, which Dr. Covey calls Put First Things First.

He suggests that we must estimate the value of everything in our lives, and give priority to what we decide matters most.

Additionally, we do well to recognize the optimal sequential order of the actions that lead to our desired outcomes.

In other words, we must not “put the cart before the horse.”

Deciding the relative importance of the things in our lives requires a degree of maturity, along with an adequate level of experience, which forms the strength of our judgement.

Take it seriously.

In the 7 Belt system we are using to represent Dr. Covey’s habits of effectiveness, Green Belt corresponds with Habit 3.

Our priorities dominate our lives.

Choose them wisely.

The “wrong” priorities keep us stuck in the “thick of thin things.”

Priorities will naturally change throughout time.

The key is to make sure that our priorities do not only change, but they actually improve.

If we are not careful, our priorities will become aspirational, instead of actionable.

Isn’t that true?

Priorities must be acted upon, instead of reacted to.

By clarifying our desired outcomes, through the practice of Habit 2, Begin With The End In Mind, we are directed by our compass, rather than being rushed by the clock and calendar.

Direction is more important than speed.

Where we are going is more important than how quickly we get there.

That said, timing is not trivial.

However, we differentiate timing and punctuality from speed and urgency.

We choose our values, right?

Our behaviors should logically follow our chosen values.

However, often they do not.

What we say, is not always what we do.

As it turns out, what we actually do, is a more accurate reflection of our true values.

Painful?

Carefully inspect how you invested the last 72 hours of your time.

If you are more ambitious, review how you invested this past week.

Who did you invest your time with, and what did you choose to do?

Have you used your time in accordance with what you believe are your priorities?

Go back further, and examine the last calendar month.

How do your behaviors stack up against your declared values and priorities?

Have you placed them on “pause”?

Sometimes we put the urgent ahead of the important.

It is a fascinating exercise to carefully examine how the “urgent” came to be.

It is usually a direct consequence of neglecting the “important.”

Are you being directed by conformity, choosing to be, do, and have what everyone else seems to be, do, and have?

Perhaps you know someone who is driven by tyranny.

Believing they can only be, do, and have what they are permitted to be, do, and have.

Then of course, there are those who are aware of their liberty, deciding who to be, what to do, what to have, and perhaps most importantly, what to give, and who to give it to.

I recommend that you write down the most important things in your life.

Establish a “top ten” list of your most important priorities based on your vision of your future, which you carefully decided through Habit 2, Begin With The End In Mind.

This is a fantastic exercise, and well worth the effort.

If you want to start with a simpler version, that is far less emotional, try prioritizing your Martial Arts curriculum.

It is likely that you have already done this.

It is also possible that someone has done it for you.

Do it again.

It’s worth the work.

In the grand scheme of things, the Martial Arts is “small potatoes.”

That said, if you pursue your training with an appreciation for its application outside of the Dojo, the return on your investment will be immense.

Predictably, at the Green Belt level, serious students of the Martial Arts develop an operational understanding of Habit 3, Put First Things First.

For example, we recognize that conditioning leads to fitness.

Fitness allows us to exercise at an intensity that builds up our health.

Our optimal health opens up the door to train at a higher level, which is conducive to increasing our skill.

We reevaluate our goals and our reasons for training, particularly when we are “stuck” on a plateau, and our progress seems imperceptible.

Give it some more thought, and take action by committing your priorities to your notebook.

A short note is often better than a long memory.

Discover where your Martial Arts training fits in with your most important priorities.

I think you are going to be delighted to discover that your training permeates the important things in your life in positive and productive ways.

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Have you made any important decisions lately?

I am asking sincerely and seriously.

Are you stuck in patterns of fear, doubt, worry, hysteria, and anguish?

If so, you may be tempted to delegate your decisions to the dictates of demagogues.

However, the actions you take are ultimately a decision that you are responsible for.

“I was only doing what I was told”, is the siren song of irresponsibility.

Will the states of consciousness that diminish your self-respect serve you and your loved ones?

When we are in a state of fear, making a decision is actually easy, if not automatic.

However, making a great decision is very difficult.

Let’s look at something more personal.

The quality of our lives.

“Big potatoes”, right?

Here is something that you and I can choose to do, without disrupting the lives of other people.

Building a healthier body and mind.

Boring, unimportant, unappealing?

If you think so, it’s a big problem, particularly for you.

If you think building a stronger body and a sharper mind is boring, you are deceiving yourself.

Secondly, if it is not a passionate obsession, it is at the very least, a personal obligation.

Thirdly, if you attempt to leap frog over your need for self-respect, social responsibility is not possible.

Do not deceive yourself.

Have you considered making a few adjustments to your diet?

Are you contemplating the possibility of developing an effective exercise regimen?

Both will require your time, effort, and attention.

You’re worth it.

The world wants you at your best, and your family needs you at your best.

That’s a lot of things.

Boring is not one of them.

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Next, we will delve into Habit 4 - Think Win-Win.

Please get yourself a copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and read it.

When you finish it, rinse and repeat.