Who doesn't want to be more productive?

 

There are 7 habits for highly effective people…did you know that? Ok, according to Steven Covey, a highly successful person who deserves our respect! Steven took a long hard look at what needs to be done to be more effective in every aspect of your life. As I studied each of the ideas, I found myself reflecting on past experiences that I could have improved if I had these habits in place.

First, I would have never taken so long to find my passion. I spent my 20s and 30s dreaming about finding my “thing”. I was being somewhat proactive; I had several hobbies that I enjoyed and often dove headfirst into them and developed my talents as best I could. However, I never looked at where I wanted to end up with my hobbies. I never took the time to think about how they could be an integral part of my life. Taking the time to think about 10-20 years from now is helpful in creating milestones to work toward.

Next, I may not have been so quick to give up. Knowing that everyone must start somewhere and there is the correct order in which to do things or in the word of Steven Covey, “first things first”. I have often found myself giving up on things because I wanted to be good at them from the get-go. If I wasn’t a professional right away, I thought I was just not meant to do it. I think that might be why older people are willing to try new things, they have lived long enough to see that it takes time to develop skills and they have had experience developing skills. As I take the time to do “first things first”, I can be successful.

Lastly, I would not have had burnout. Covey describes this as “sharpen the saw”. Think about it, if you are trying to cut wood with a dull blade, it will take a whole lot longer than if you take a few minutes to stop and sharpen the saw; the experience will be less grueling and more successful if you just take a moment to stop and sharpen the saw. As much as we want to finish a job, we need to think about how to best finish it and that means taking a break from it.

The most impactful of the 7 habits for me is “starting with the end in mind”. Every aspect of my life can be improved if I follow this simple principle. I will be able to mark the progress along the way, lay the steps to success in the proper order, and make plans for needed breaks. In business, I can work with a steady plan that will make my success possible but also manageable. My family life can be improved as I look for ways to improve relationships, plan, and see it realized.  

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