The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Habit 1: Be Proactive : 

"Habit 1 is the key to unlocking all the other habits and that's why it comes first. It says, "I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I'm responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver's seat of my destiny, not just a passenger."

What this quotes means to me is that being proactive is one of the highly effective people . If you are proactive, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. Active means "doing something." The prefix pro- means "before." So if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens. The opposite is being reactive, or waiting for things to unfold before responding. Being proactive can lead to many benefits , here are 10 benefits I can make up for being proactive . The first benefit is being more prepared for situations , this is important because you are already ready to face what is coming towards your way . This also means that you're thinking about what could happen today to avoid chaos tomorrow . The second benefit is by saving time , this means that you are putting time and effort for the future . The third is Alleviates problems or issues before they happen ,  You’re able to uncover potential problems or conflict and minimize your exposure to it. For instance, there are certain environments or people that you know you can’t tolerate (negative people, biased critics, or “haters”) so you refrain from or minimize your contact with these people or places. Benefit number four is Recognizes a need for change – As you’re thinking ahead, you may realize there are things that you could change for the better. You see yourself as a business owner in the future so you’re making moves today to increase your skill set and networking with people already running businesses. Benefit number 5 is Fosters creativity and change – You’re willing to step out of your comfort zone to make things work. Since you see the big picture (#8), you understand that there are things that need to be done now to ensure you stay on track with your long-term goals. Sometimes this means trying something new. You may be a salon owner which has typically been a cash-basis business, but to fulfill the needs of your clients and to keep up with the world of plastic (credit cards), you now accept credit card payments via card readers (even on cell phones).

6 .Allows for flexibility – Being proactive gives you more options because you are considering things before they happen. You know what kind of business you plan to start so you’ve already began looking for potential spaces in areas with demand for your product or service.

7 . Self-improvement and awareness – As you are contemplating the “what if’s”, you realize things about yourself that you’ve become accustomed to unknowingly. If you’re always late, you’ll start breaking this habit and start projects earlier.

8 .Sees the big picture and understand long-term goals – Acting proactively means that you are forward-looking. You’ve changed your eating habits and workout routine because you’re aiming for a healthier and happier you. You’re a representation of a positive change to your colleagues or employees within your Empire.

9 .Clearer directions for your future – Sitting back and waiting for things to happen is not an option, there’s a path that you’ve drawn out and you’re sticking to it. You’re not in the position at work that you want today but you know where you’re planning to go and how you plan to get there.

10 .Peace of mind – You’re happy with where you are and where you are going because you have an idea of what is coming. It’s easier to sleep at night when you have a plan for the morning.

 Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

"Control your own destiny or someone else will." (Jack Welch)

Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen. One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement.   Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen. One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision.
Habit 3 : Put First Things First "Organize and execute around priorities."

Put First Things First. Put First Things First is Habit # 3 of Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Putting first things first means doing to the most important things in life. It means being clear about your priorities and acting on them.Some few examples of this is to set reminders , reminding ourselves of our tasks using notes and to-do lists . Another example is Planning and Preparation this means looking ahead , identifying deadlines , and scheduling future events accordingly . 

Habit 4 :  Think Win-Win

"Think win-win or no deal."

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good! A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments

Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others

Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Habit 5: "Diagnose before you prescribe."

 

If you attempt to come up with a solution for a person’s dilemma before you fully understand it do you honestly think they are ever going to fully trust you? Would you trust your mechanic to bill you for parts for your car that he only thinks are broken based purely on what you are telling him is wrong? Maybe Unless you know for a fact that the person is an automotive psychic You would expect him “or her” to take a look at your car and do some work on it “first” before requesting payment, “Right?” The point here is; if you are the one playing mechanic when someone brings a problem to you; the only really good way to insure that they will trust you and what you prescribe as a solution for them to work with is through your practice of empathetic listening

                    Habit 6 :  Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
"Diagnose before you prescribe." 

Communication is the most important skill in life. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right? If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. 

Habit 7:  Sharpen the Saw Four Dimensions of Self-Renewal: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social/Emotional

 Sharpen The Saw is a conversation about planning and continuous improvement. Sharpen The Saw discusses self-renewal, self-care, self-respect and self-improvement... so as the last chapter of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I believe this chapter also represents why most people initially decide to read this personal change book... their desire to improve. I see the previous 7 Habits as being foundational... and if you work with them, the previous 7 Habits build a very necessary and helpful foundation that will serve you well. Sharpening The Saw is anything that will help you renew your energy and keep you balanced. As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?  

Reflection : 

These 7 Habits of Highly Effective People really taught me a lot on how to be an effective person towards success. It has taught me to put my needs before my wants and also to prioritize.  I will commit to these 7 Habits by trying to practice one everyday of the week. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. These habits are nothing but great they teach many things for example they teach how to have and keep an open mind, they also teach you how to not procrastinate, and how to be proactive. I recommend that people should learn and study these habits. They will make your life easier and enjoyable. They will prevent you from problems and stress and make you a good person.  The seven habits are Be Proactive, Begin with end in mind, Put first things first, Think win win, Seek first to understand, then to be understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the saw. I will try to apply these habits into my life by practicing them.