As a principle-centered person, you try to stand apart from the emotion of the situation and from other factors that would act on you, and evaluate the options. Looking at the balanced whole—the work needs, the family needs, other needs that may be involved and the possible implications of the various alternative decisions—you’ll try to come up with the best solution, taking all factors into consideration.

(Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, p.151)

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. And this can best be done in the context of the week.

SELECTING GOALS. The next step is to think of one or two important results

you feel you should accomplish in each role during the next seven days. These would be recorded as goals. At least some of these goals should reflect Quadrant II activities. Ideally,

these weekly goals would be tied to the longer-term goals you have identified in conjunction with your personal mission statement. But even if you haven’t written your mission statement, you can get a feeling, a sense, of what is important as you consider each of your roles and one or two goals for each role.

(Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, p.168)