"The most important thing is to keep the most important thing(s) the most important thing." - Modified from Stephen Covey's quote "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
Living by this principle is the difference between a life of frantic activity and a life of meaningful accomplishment. We often know what’s truly important, but we allow it to be crowded out by everything else.
The Urgent vs. The Important: The Daily Battle for Your Attention
Our lives are filled with a constant stream of demands that feel urgent: the ping of an email, a breaking news alert, a last-minute request from a colleague. These things scream for our immediate attention. The truly important things, however, rarely do.
- Urgent tasks are reactive. They pressure you.
- Important tasks are proactive. They progress you towards your long-term goals and align with your deepest values—things like building strong relationships, strategic thinking for your career, or maintaining your physical and mental health.
You must consciously and deliberately choose the important over the merely urgent, having the discipline to ignore the noise to focus on the signal.
First, You Must Define "The Most Important Thing"
You must first define your "most important things". It is the core of your personal mission. It requires deep reflection. What are the "most important things" for you this season in your life regarding your...
- Career? Is it mastering a new skill, leading your team with integrity, achieving a specific sales target?
- Family/Friends? Is it being truly present during evenings, creating shared memories, supporting your partner's dreams?
- Health? Is it getting consistent sleep, managing stress through mindfulness, training for a fitness goal?
Once you have this clarity, the "most important things" becomes your North Star, guiding your daily decisions.
How to Keep the Important Thing the Important Thing This Week
- Declare It: At the start of each day, write down your single most important task. This simple act primes your brain to focus on it.
- Schedule It First: Look at your calendar for the week. Before it fills up with meetings and reactive tasks, block out time for your most important priorities. Treat these blocks as unbreakable appointments with your future self.
- Create a "Not-To-Do" List: Identify the specific distractions or low-value tasks that tend to derail you. Consciously decide to avoid them, especially during your peak focus hours.
- Saying No: Saying "no" isn't about being unhelpful or selfish. It is an act of strategic prioritisation. A respectful "no" to a distraction is a powerful "yes" to your mission.
In a world of infinite options and endless distractions, your ability to identify and protect your most important thing is your ultimate competitive advantage, both professionally and personally. It is the simple, repeatable secret to a life well-lived.