The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Meaning of the quote

The quote is saying that instead of just making a schedule and filling it with things to do, you should first decide what's really important to you and then make a schedule around those important things. This way, you make sure the most important things get done, instead of just doing whatever is on your schedule without thinking about if it's a priority.

About Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey was a renowned American educator, author, and speaker. He is best known for his popular book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’. Covey’s work focused on principle-centered leadership and helping individuals and organizations achieve their full potential.

More about the author

More quotes from Stephen Covey

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

We are not animals. We are not a product of what has happened to us in our past. We have the power of choice.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Live out of your imagination, not your history.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

There are three constants in life… change, choice and principles.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconcious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

It’s a fact that more people watch television and get their information that way than read books. I find new technology and new ways of communication very exciting and would like to do more in this field.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Public behavior is merely private character writ large.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

A cardinal principle of Total Quality escapes too many managers: you cannot continuously improve interdependent systems and processes until you progressively perfect interdependent, interpersonal relationships.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Stephen Covey

American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker (1932-2012)