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What Matters Most: The Power of Living Your Values
In What Matters Most, bestselling author Hyrum W. Smith explains why so many people feel something is missing from their lives because of conflicts between actions and personal values. Through compelling examples from others and from his own extensive experience, Smith outlines a simple but powerful formula to help you identify your own values and live them to the fullest. This strategy consists of three valuable steps:
Discover what matters most to you
Make a plan
Act on that plan
By incorporating Smith's strategy into your life, you will not only re-embrace your values but you will make them your priority. What Matters Most is an indispensable and timely guide to living a truly fulfilling life and becoming the person you always wanted to be.
Discover what matters most to you
Make a plan
Act on that plan
By incorporating Smith's strategy into your life, you will not only re-embrace your values but you will make them your priority. What Matters Most is an indispensable and timely guide to living a truly fulfilling life and becoming the person you always wanted to be.
251 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2000
16 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Hyrum W. Smith
61 books49 followersHyrum W. Smith is a distinguished author, speaker, and businessman. Hyrum was one of the original creators of the popular Franklin Day Planner. In 1983 he co-founded the Franklin Quest Company to produce the planner and train individuals and organizations in the time management principles on which the planner was based. In 1997 it became the Franklin Covey Company. Hyrum stepped down as Chairman & CEO in 1999. He continued as Vice-Chairman of the Board until 2004.
For four decades, he has been empowering people to effectively govern their personal and professional lives. Hyrum’s books and presentations have been acclaimed by American and international audiences. He combines wit and enthusiasm with a gift for communicating compelling principles that incite lasting personal change.
Hyrum is the author of several nationally-acclaimed books, including The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management, What Matters Most, The Modern Gladiator, You Are What You Believe and he co-authored Excellence Through Time Management.
Hyrum grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then spent two years in London, England. He returned from London and was drafted into the army.
He was married in 1966 to Gail Cooper while on leave. They have six children (five living) and 24 grandchildren (22 living).
After graduating Honor Graduate from Officers Candidate School, he commanded a Pershing Missile unit in Germany. Hyrum graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971 in Business Management.
Hyrum has received numerous honors and community service awards, including the following:
• International Entrepreneur of the Year by Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management in 1993
• Three honorary doctorate degrees
• SRI Gallup Hall of Fame and Man of the Year Award in 1992
• Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America
• Inducted into the Utah Business Hall of Fame
Hyrum enjoys golfing, shooting pistols and rifles, listening to classical music, horse riding and spending time with his family at his ranch in southern Utah.
He has recently founded a new business called 3 Gaps
His new book, "The Three Gaps: Are You Making A Difference?", will be released January 11, 2016.
For four decades, he has been empowering people to effectively govern their personal and professional lives. Hyrum’s books and presentations have been acclaimed by American and international audiences. He combines wit and enthusiasm with a gift for communicating compelling principles that incite lasting personal change.
Hyrum is the author of several nationally-acclaimed books, including The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management, What Matters Most, The Modern Gladiator, You Are What You Believe and he co-authored Excellence Through Time Management.
Hyrum grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then spent two years in London, England. He returned from London and was drafted into the army.
He was married in 1966 to Gail Cooper while on leave. They have six children (five living) and 24 grandchildren (22 living).
After graduating Honor Graduate from Officers Candidate School, he commanded a Pershing Missile unit in Germany. Hyrum graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971 in Business Management.
Hyrum has received numerous honors and community service awards, including the following:
• International Entrepreneur of the Year by Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management in 1993
• Three honorary doctorate degrees
• SRI Gallup Hall of Fame and Man of the Year Award in 1992
• Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America
• Inducted into the Utah Business Hall of Fame
Hyrum enjoys golfing, shooting pistols and rifles, listening to classical music, horse riding and spending time with his family at his ranch in southern Utah.
He has recently founded a new business called 3 Gaps
His new book, "The Three Gaps: Are You Making A Difference?", will be released January 11, 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 7, 2018
good tales, good examples and good plot, but nothing new and special
November 27, 2023
Some books come back to greet you like an old friend, even if the message they deliver the second time around is completely different from the one you originally received. This book is one of those gems.
I first read this book nearly two decades ago, long before it was customary to leave an online review. Truth be told, I couldn’t even find this title in e-book format. Instead, I was forced to comb the online bookstore annals to locate a physical hard copy. And boy am I glad that I did.
The words inside these covers are not intended to be read alone. They’re meant to be absorbed into the essence of your being. Honestly, when I think about it, it’s even more than that. The principles and ideas shared by this author are there to help you define the essence of your being.
As someone with a scientific background, I gravitated toward the atomic analogy presented throughout this book. The human being as a nucleus with electrons representing one’s roles, governing values, and personal mission spinning around that center point.
It would take an entire book to expand upon just how much these timeless principles have the power to change your world. And maybe that’s why this book took so long to read. I don’t believe it’s meant to be read cover to cover. Instead, it calls for us to read a chapter, reflect, and write. And with each new concept introduced and internalized, I felt myself come closer to the person I want to be. Not what someone else thinks I should be, or who society asks me to be. No, for the first time, I honestly asked myself what matters most to me and why. It’s an easy question to ask of someone and a seemingly impossible one to answer, but the way Mr. Smith guides us through the process, I can honestly say that I now know what matters most to me, and I have a clear idea about what I need to do in order to live in accordance with those ideals.
Is it easy? Definitely not. Will there be hiccups along the way? Undoubtedly. Is it possible to become the truest version of yourself? Absolutely. In fact, after going through this process, I feel more empowered to effect change in my life than I ever have before. And not only that generic type of change that we casually toss around near the beginning of a new year. No, this is change that matters… change that matters most to us. And when we begin a shift to engage in those things that matter most, we begin to recognize just how amazing our journey through life can be.
I first read this book nearly two decades ago, long before it was customary to leave an online review. Truth be told, I couldn’t even find this title in e-book format. Instead, I was forced to comb the online bookstore annals to locate a physical hard copy. And boy am I glad that I did.
The words inside these covers are not intended to be read alone. They’re meant to be absorbed into the essence of your being. Honestly, when I think about it, it’s even more than that. The principles and ideas shared by this author are there to help you define the essence of your being.
As someone with a scientific background, I gravitated toward the atomic analogy presented throughout this book. The human being as a nucleus with electrons representing one’s roles, governing values, and personal mission spinning around that center point.
It would take an entire book to expand upon just how much these timeless principles have the power to change your world. And maybe that’s why this book took so long to read. I don’t believe it’s meant to be read cover to cover. Instead, it calls for us to read a chapter, reflect, and write. And with each new concept introduced and internalized, I felt myself come closer to the person I want to be. Not what someone else thinks I should be, or who society asks me to be. No, for the first time, I honestly asked myself what matters most to me and why. It’s an easy question to ask of someone and a seemingly impossible one to answer, but the way Mr. Smith guides us through the process, I can honestly say that I now know what matters most to me, and I have a clear idea about what I need to do in order to live in accordance with those ideals.
Is it easy? Definitely not. Will there be hiccups along the way? Undoubtedly. Is it possible to become the truest version of yourself? Absolutely. In fact, after going through this process, I feel more empowered to effect change in my life than I ever have before. And not only that generic type of change that we casually toss around near the beginning of a new year. No, this is change that matters… change that matters most to us. And when we begin a shift to engage in those things that matter most, we begin to recognize just how amazing our journey through life can be.
July 10, 2015
"People without a vision have no interest in seeing the sun come up the next day. But people "with" vision experience what Churchill experienced. They can't wait, and as soon as that sun comes up, they are out of bed. They have energy. They have excitement. They have a plan. They have vision. They know exactly where they are going and how they are going to get there." ~ Hyrum W. Smith, "What Matters Most", p. 36, para 2.
The title of this book was very well chosen, as that is what is truly the topic of this book. Hyrum Smith coaches his readers to find out what really matters most to them. The way that Hyrum Smith attempts to get his readers to do this is by:
* Discovering the uniqueness of yourself;
* Identifying the roles that matter to you;
* Writing out your own constitution by identifying and clarifying your governing values;
* Creating a motivating Personal Mission Statement;
* Defining your vision in writing and listing the steps required to reach your vision.
The only criticism I have of this book is that it should have had the questions at the end of each chapter, so that readers could work through the questions that Hyrum weaves throughout the book. It made it very difficult to put many of his principles taught in the book into practice practically. If there would have been a workbook or a list of questions that accompanied the text, the book would have been a more practical tool to finding out what matters most for his readers.
Hyrum Smith shares many of his personal stories throughout this book that will encourage you to think about What Matters Most to you.
The title of this book was very well chosen, as that is what is truly the topic of this book. Hyrum Smith coaches his readers to find out what really matters most to them. The way that Hyrum Smith attempts to get his readers to do this is by:
* Discovering the uniqueness of yourself;
* Identifying the roles that matter to you;
* Writing out your own constitution by identifying and clarifying your governing values;
* Creating a motivating Personal Mission Statement;
* Defining your vision in writing and listing the steps required to reach your vision.
The only criticism I have of this book is that it should have had the questions at the end of each chapter, so that readers could work through the questions that Hyrum weaves throughout the book. It made it very difficult to put many of his principles taught in the book into practice practically. If there would have been a workbook or a list of questions that accompanied the text, the book would have been a more practical tool to finding out what matters most for his readers.
Hyrum Smith shares many of his personal stories throughout this book that will encourage you to think about What Matters Most to you.
September 9, 2007
نه تصادف و نه سرنوشت
هيچ كدام
نمي توانند
مانع تحقق خواست و اراده
يك نفس مصمم شوند
هيچ كدام
نمي توانند
مانع تحقق خواست و اراده
يك نفس مصمم شوند
February 9, 2020
A number of years ago, before I read this book, I took pen to paper and wrote down my values. It was a cathartic experience as they had been trying to get out of my brain for some time!! I check in with them often and share them where appropriate as they are a short cut for the relevant people to see quickly what I stand for. Values also give great focus and meaning to your life. They are both a compass and a benchmark.
I highly recommend following the beautifully simple process in this book. If your life seems to be a bit dull, add some colour and purpose by defining your values.
I’d like to create mine again using this process and see how different they might be to the ones I created organically.
I highly recommend following the beautifully simple process in this book. If your life seems to be a bit dull, add some colour and purpose by defining your values.
I’d like to create mine again using this process and see how different they might be to the ones I created organically.
July 20, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. It definitely was not a waste of time. I always liked his little stories that he tells in order to make everything more relevant. His part about "The Belief Window" is especially useful.
June 9, 2017
Really thought he put his heart into this one. Fine content from a singular man.
November 8, 2024
Too long winded
February 2, 2011
This is a pretty good book but it seem to be mostly the same stuff from 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management. It's good stuff, but I did read it already in the other book.
The particular reason I wanted this book was because the library got rid of the other one. I wanted to revisit the exercise about figuring out your values, and I was hoping this book would have it, too, but despite the large overlap, it had very little on that. Either I'm misremembering how awesome the values exercise was in the first one, or they decided it was a lot less important for this one and did some heavy trimming. I think that's a shame--it was the best part, to me.
...
notes:
story about successful entrepreneur asked why he was so successful.
E: Good decisions.
Q? Well, how do you make good decisions?
E: Experience.
Q? How do you get experience?
E. Bad decisions.
Example mission statement: We inspire change by igniting the power of proven principles so that people and organizations achieve what matters most.
The particular reason I wanted this book was because the library got rid of the other one. I wanted to revisit the exercise about figuring out your values, and I was hoping this book would have it, too, but despite the large overlap, it had very little on that. Either I'm misremembering how awesome the values exercise was in the first one, or they decided it was a lot less important for this one and did some heavy trimming. I think that's a shame--it was the best part, to me.
...
notes:
story about successful entrepreneur asked why he was so successful.
E: Good decisions.
Q? Well, how do you make good decisions?
E: Experience.
Q? How do you get experience?
E. Bad decisions.
Example mission statement: We inspire change by igniting the power of proven principles so that people and organizations achieve what matters most.
March 24, 2014
The ideas in this book are ok, but hardly offer anything new. For those looking for good introductions to time-management principles I would recommend reading Stephen Covey and David Allen. If you have read these, Smith will not bring much new stuff to the table.
Basically the material is good, but at some point he goes over the top with his can-do attitude. I dislike his use of "natural laws" instead of "principles". Smith also seems to think people are able to change their behavior as soon as they have seen the light, which is overly optimistic in my opinion.
Basically the material is good, but at some point he goes over the top with his can-do attitude. I dislike his use of "natural laws" instead of "principles". Smith also seems to think people are able to change their behavior as soon as they have seen the light, which is overly optimistic in my opinion.
August 3, 2011
The first time I read this book was when it was originally released. Applying its principles and practices to my life in 2001 helped me achieve what I look back on as one of the times when I was at my peak in life. Relearning these lessons now will help me scale even higher mountains of inner peace. The book is useful in identifying roles, governing values, personal mission and using these to achieve your targets in life.
September 11, 2014
I found this book in a bargain bin for $2, and was intrigued by the title. I wasn't sure how much to expect from a $2 book, but actually learned a great deal that has helped me examine what truly matters in my life, and making sure I am using my time for those things. Some of the book was a little redunandt, but still a thought-provoking read.
June 5, 2014
Powerful book. As good as any personal development book I have read. Very easy book to read with a lot of inspiring stories. I like how he teaches to find firstly pinpoint your roles, governing values and mission statement before setting goals. Smith comes off as very genuine and wise throughout the book and seems like a truly likeable character. Certainly deserves a better rating than 3.88.
October 26, 2008
I think I've slept through this twice now...most recently on the long flight from San Francisco to Singapore and the week after I got home and tried to recover from jetlag. Maybe the third time I will actually learn how to set goals and accomplish something.
February 19, 2010
MUST read the letter sent from a father to Hyrum near the end of the book.
May 30, 2013
2nd time I've read it and I was not as impressed with it this time. Still a good book but it did not blow my mind.
July 26, 2011
Smith's approach to the belief window does match the Paradigm approach of Covey, but I still prefer Covey over this.
October 22, 2012
Seemed like a lot of this information was dated, and not that useful. I thought it was okay.
June 7, 2015
Another good book on priorities by the founders of Franklin/Covey. The material especially examples are a bit dated but a good book on focusing your priorities
October 29, 2008
It was one of his better books.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews