Stephen Corey and David Allen

Stephen Corey had one specific line in "First Things First" that jumped out at me immediately: "It's easy to think because something is urgent, it's important." This is a common miscalculation; but an equally important one - and one that I struggle with personally - is defining true urgency. Often times - especially as of late - when I am extremely busy and it feels like I must constantly be doing something, I mistakenly view certain tasks as urgent when they are not (though they may be important). When I have an overwhelming to-do list I sometimes tend to choose any task just so I can say I accomplished something. Now, when you're entirely too overwhelmed with anything it is usually a good idea to take a slight break with some of your more menial tasks, but it's important that I don't allow myself to fall into that habit every time I have a lot to do. Later on, Corey also says, "They're not urgent. They aren't pressing. They don't act on you. You have to act on them." Meaning that those tasks that I tend to jump to because they're easy - while I have to realize that they are not equally as urgent as some others - I have to realize that they do still have to get done. It comes to David Allen's statement, "We are all accountable to define what, if anything, we are committed to make happen as we engage with ourselves and with others."