I first read Sean Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens when given the book as a reading assignment for my first meeting as a state FFA officer. Since then, I’ve also read the original 7 Habits by Dr. Stephen Covey, and work to keep those principles as a foundation for effectiveness in my work and life. If you’ve never interacted with the 7 Habits, allow me to introduce you: https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php

Last night’s activity was a perfect example of Habit 3, Put First Things First. My best friend Megan and I coordinate and lead much of the music at our church and last night was our choir’s weekly practice. I arrived a little early to look over some potential choir pieces for an upcoming baptism, but barely had time to really look through them before we needed to begin our practice. Was choosing a piece important? Yes. Urgent? Yes. I got the job done, but probably not with the thoroughness it merited.

After practice, Megan and I looked through some different arrangements in preparation for all the special music we try to do for Holy Week services. We probably spent an hour looking through books, trying things out on piano and organ, coming up with new ideas, and practicing. Is the music for Holy Week important? Absolutely. Urgent? Not yet.

And the absence of the sense of urgency to get something figured out right away was what allowed us to try out some new things, tinker around with ideas, and ultimately leave with some “new stuff” we likely wouldn’t have arrived at if the stress of getting it accomplished right away had been there.

It’s unrealistic to think we could live 100% of our lives in Q2, but last night’s reminder of how effective time in Q2 can be motivates me to want to try!