As a doctor, I’m all about efficiency and doing things that make a difference in the lives of my patients. As the mother and traffic director of a good-sized family, I’m equally committed to the things that make our lives feel like we are on the right road.

Sometimes, it’s hard to discern at the end of the day whether I made a difference for other people, in spite of a great deal of effort, and that’s when I’m grateful for Steven Covey. He is spot on with his advice: you have to take care of the big things in order to accomplish all the little things that claim your attention.

So what are the big things? Do I feed my family well? Am I working hard to help my children create lives that aren’t too sleep-deprived and over-scheduled? Am I taking care of my marriage? Is there time for volunteering andmy faith life?

As summer begins, I’m taking stock and feeling positive about how things are going. How about you? Perhaps you might want to make some time for yourself and your family to reflect on your successes. Name the “big things” in your child’s life and in the life of your family, and be honest. Are those big things getting the attention they deserve?

I love the way Steven Covey visually reminds me of the pay-off when I attend to the bucket of my big and little things…the rocks that all fit into my bucket. Watch and see what he has to say.