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What do Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, and Warren Buffet have in common?
All three have the drive and the passion to succeed. They are experts in selfdiscipline and improving their processes. Luckily, there is a way for you to be
like these powerful men.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is a selfhelp book that tells us that the way we see the world is completely
created on our own observations and perceptions. To change
ourselves, we should change how we view the world. It gives an
explanation as to why there are individuals who have achieved a
high degree of outward success still have a high need for personal
efficiency and are still struggling to have healthy relationships with
others. Stephen R. Covey claims that efficiency or a person’s
effectiveness works in a P/PC ratio, wherein “P” is your anticipated
results and “PC” is giving importance for the “P which produces
desirable outcomes.
Covey outlines 7 habits that successfully effective people have:
1. Be Proactive. The first practice is to take the initiative. As
humans, we have the gift to be able to examine our own character,
think and decide how we see ourselves and our circumstances, and
regulate our own success.
2. Begin with the End in Mind. Habit number 2 advises that we need to know specifically what
kind of outcome do we want to achieve, build a roadmap if you can. In this way, we are
guaranteed that the steps we’re taking are in the right direction.
3. Put First Things First. Learn how to prioritize. Create a list to identify which tasks are very
important, mark that as number one. The least priority will be second, so on and so forth.
4. Think Win-Win. Always think of the other party winning, not just yourself. It’s not about finding
the middle ground, but finding a way to work symbiotically and being in that healthy happy
work relationship without being on the losing end of the bargain.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. Before we can offer advice and suggest
solutions, we must first try to understand them, why they behave the way they do, what kind of
situation are they in. Sincerely putting yourself in another’s person shoes (a.k.a. empathy) gives
a fair perspective of the situation, allowing you to give sound advice without bias or prejudice.
6. Synergize. To synergize means joining together to yield a collective effect that is more superior
than the sum of individual efforts. It’s a mix of teamwork, impartiality, and the adventure of
finding new solutions to old problems, together.
7. Sharpen the Saw. Habit 7 is engrossed around replenishment, taking the time to study and or
“sharpen the saw.” It surrounds all of the other habits and makes each one possible by
protecting and improving your greatest strength -- yourself.
The way we see the world will definitely depend on how we identify reality. By changing our paradigms,
and by practicing self-efficiency, we turn ourselves into effective successful machines.
Do you have questions or comments on how to effectively self-manage? Write it down! We’d love to
hear back from you.