They are more an interruption than a contribution to our own priorities. Examples are a telephone call, fax message, e-mail, knock on the door. Following are various combinations which can help us evaluate proposed tasks. These activities obviously have the highest current priority because they deal with significant results and require immediate action. Although not on the schedule, they elbow their way to the top of the list.
Examples are an unexpected major problem, crisis, impending deadline.
These activities have high priority even though they do not require immediate action. Examples are planning, revision of goals, strengthening relationships. Although at the heart of effective personal management, these activities are often neglected because they do not have to be done now. They become costly casualties of tyranny of the urgent. Although unimportant, these activities in the guise of urgency conjure up an illusion that they are of value to us.