Once you have a clear picture of your priorities - that is values, goals, and high leverage activities - organize around them.

Effective people stay out of Quadrants III and IV because, urgent or not, they aren't important. They also shrink Quadrant I down to size by spending more time in Quadrant II...Quadrant II is the heart of effective personal management.

True independence of character empowers us to act rather than be acted upon.

While values drive behaviors, principles govern consequences.

The person who is truly effective has the humility and reverence to recognize his own perceptual limitations and to appreciate the rich resources available through interaction with the hearts and minds of other human beings.

We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us.

You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others.