4
Consider the Consequences

The clearer you are about your future goals, the sharper present priorities come into focus. Accept the fact that there will never be enough time to do every thing. Then do first things first, and second things not at all.

NOTES

1. Successful people have a strong orientation toward the future. Their attitude toward time—their “time horizon”—influences choices and behavior in the short term. What are your goals? And where do you see yourself? Use this chart to map out your 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year goals in the areas of business success, financial independence, family/relationships, and health/fitness.

2. And where are you right now? Take a minute to grade yourself on a 1–10 scale in each area (10 being the best). Put a dot on each score and connect them for a sense of your current life. (The goal is to have a perfect diamond.)

Where are you strongest? Weakest?

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3. There will never be enough time to do every thing you have to do. All you can hope for is to be on top of your most important responsibilities. Based on where you are and where you hope to go:

What are your highest-value activities—those frogs you have to eat to make the largest impact?
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What can you and only you do, that if done well, will make a real difference?
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What is the most valuable use of your time right now?
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