The Carey Guides were built with the idea that a person is likely precontemplative or contemplative when they start using a Guide. So, the first tool gets them thinking about the issue, taking stock of their life as it relates to the topic, and—in some cases—doing a mini self-assessment. The tools then moves into skill-building and maintenance, where appropriate. That said, no one person is alike, and we understand that it may be useful to begin at a different stage in the Guide sequence, as determined by a person's motivation level and circumstance, rather than starting with the first tool and moving through the rest of the tools sequentially.