Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been on the best-seller list for many years now. Covey is the co-founder of the Franklin Covey company, dedicated to enabling greatness in people and organisations.
Think about this for starters …
Who am I?
I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things I do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great individuals and alas, of all failures, as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin – it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.
Who am I?
I AM HABIT
Yes, habits are very powerful forces in our lives. In Covey’s book, he presents seven habits of effectiveness.
Here they are:
Habit 1 – Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your life (Principles of Personal Vision). Don’t react or blame all your problems on other people (parents, teachers, boss, friends, government). Don’t be a victim who takes no responsibility for their life.
Habit 2 – Begin with the End in Mind: Define your mission and goals in life (Principles of Personal Leadership). Don’t just live for moment.
Habit 3 – Put First things First: Prioritise, and do the most important things first (Principles of Personal Management).
Habit 4 – Think Win/Win: Have an ‘everyone-can-win’ attitude (Principles of Interpersonal Relationships). Don’t see life as competition where if someone else wins, you lose.
Habit 5 – Seek first to understand, then be understood: Listen to people sincerely (Principles of Empathetic Communication). Don’t seek first to talk, then pretend to listen.
Habit 6 – Synergise: Work together to achieve more (Principles of Creative Cooperation). Don’t be your own island, refusing to co-operate with other people because they’re different from you.
Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw: Renew yourself regularly (Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal). Don’t wear yourself out, never studying or learning because you are so busy with your life.
What habit do you need to work on this week?
Interesting blog. I’ve visited your church a couple of times. Despite his being a Mormon, Covey has some valid things to say about motivation and self-discipline.