First Things First

Front 1

Choice (First things first principle)

Back 1

--In our hands is the power to choose. Some choices produce better results than others. There is a "cause and effect" relationship between choices and consequences. This relationship is sometimes referred to as "the Law of the Harvest," or what we have called the Law of the Farm.
--You reap what you sow.

Front 2

Reflectiveness (First things first principle)

Back 2

By taking time to relfect on life instead of spending all our time just living, we can become aware of the consequences of our choices and learn from living.

Front 3

Value of Choices (First things first principle)

Back 3

The value of one choice over another is not always completely rational or easily defensible, bit it is discernible. With some form of intuition, people know the "right thing to do," and life is better to the degree to which one learns to follow this "guide."

Front 4

Truth (First things first principle)

Back 4

There are "truths"--fundamental Laws of Life that operate with unerring consistency--and we are better off to the degree to which we learn and live according to them.

Front 5

Basic Needs (First things first principle)

Back 5

There are universal human needs, and nothing works well very long in the human experience that ignores them.

Front 6

Nature (First things first principle)

Back 6

People are part of a bigger ocological whole. Living in harmony with nature is a vital part of quality of life.

Front 7

Relationships (First things first principle)

Back 7

The law that governs quality in our relationships with others is the Law of Reciprocity, or the Golden Rule. Life is better when we treat others as we would be treated.

Front 8

Contribution (First things first principle)

Back 8

The great apparent dichotomy is that the more we gice, the more we get.

Front 9

Perspective (First things first principle)

Back 9

There is more to life than "me" and "now." The bigger picture produces better-quality decisions.

Front 10

Time is...

Back 10

Time is life

Front 11

Things which are Important and Urgent (IU-1)

Back 11

-Crises
-Pressing problems
-Deadline-driven projects, meetings, and preparations.

Front 12

Things which are Important but Not Urgent (INU-2)

Back 12

-Preparation
-Prevention
-Values Clarification
-Planning
-Relationship building
-True re-creation
-Empowerment

Front 13

Things which are Not Important but Urgent (NIU-3)

Back 13

-Interruptions, some phone calls
-Some mail, some reports
-Some meetings
-Many proximate, pressing matters
-Many popular activities

Front 14

Things which are Not Important and Not Urgent (NINU-4)

Back 14

-Trivia, busywork
-Junk mail
-Some phone calls
-Time wasters
-"Escape" activities

Front 15

What is the difference between importance and urgency?

Back 15

Importance is

Front 16

What are the 4 needs?

Back 16

-To live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy
-Physical, spiritual, mental, and social.
*This reminded me of "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength."

Front 17

What is "true north?"

Back 17

The guiding principlies which undergird reality. Ex. The Law of the Farm

Front 18

What is the law of the farm?

Back 18

You reap what you sow.

Front 19

What are the four human endowments? (First things first principle)

Back 19

-Self-awareness
-Conscience
-Independent Will
-Creative Imagination

Front 20

How do you nurture Self-Awareness?

Back 20

-Meditation and Keeping a Journal
-Nurture the other three endowments.

Front 21

How do you nurture Conscience?

Back 21

-Pray and spend time with God.
-Learn, Listen, and Respond.
-Read wisdom literature (ex. proverbs, job, new testament, etc)
-Nurture the other three endowments.

Front 22

How do you nurture Independent Will?

Back 22

-Make and keep promises
-Make deposits into your Personal Integrity Account.
-Nurture the other three endowments.

Front 23

How do you nurture Creative Imagination?

Back 23

-Visualize right things. (ex. the promises of God)
-Gain "The MacGyver Factor"
-Nurture the other three endowments.

Front 24

What is the "MacGyver Factor?"

Back 24

-The embodiment of the power of creative imagination.
-It is understanding and being able to apply principles in a wide variety of situations.
*Using the resources at hand to accomplish the goal in mind.

Front 25

Principles are...

Back 25

-The simplicity on the far side of complexity.
-"True North" on life's and our moral compass.

Front 26

The main thing...

Back 26

is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Front 27

The 1st of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 27

Be Proactive: Principles of Personal Choice

Front 28

The 2nd of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 28

Begin with the end in mind: Principles of Personal Vision

Front 29

The 3rd of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 29

Put First Things First: Principles of Integrity and Execution

Front 30

The 4th of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 30

Think Win/Win: Principles of Mutual Benefit

Front 31

The 5th of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 31

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Principles of Mutual Understanding

Front 32

The 6th of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 32

Synergize: Principles of Creative Cooperation

Front 33

The 7th of 7 habits of highly effective people.

Back 33

Sharpen the Saw: Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal of Self