I recently finished reading “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People”. My dad gave me the book. Being retired now, my dad felt that some of the books that benefited his career might benefit mine. I found many messages and stories presented resonated with my life today.
Below are some of the points within the book that really hit home for me.... You could say they were paradigm-shifting. I will be paraphrasing and draw from my own interpretation of what I read, so please forgive me if my interpretation or understanding isn’t the same as yours.
1. The Story of the Golden Goose and P/PC Balance (production and production capability).
“… the story shows, true effectiveness is a function of two things: what is produced (the golden eggs) and the producing asset… (the goose).”
My interpretation: We must strike a balance between “production” and “production capability” or the capacity to produce in order to be truly effective at what's important in our lives.
2. Proactive Focus. “Positive energy enlarges the Circle Of Influence.”
My interpretation: A positive attitude and confidence in combination with hard work, focus and determination are key to achieving positive results. Practiced in good times and not-so-good times, positive energy delivers positive results in whatever we want to acheive.
Be positive, follow your passions, give and help others without thought of what might come back to you. Then occasionally measure the circle of influence and identify opportunities that have come as the circle of influence increases.
3. Begin With The End In Mind.
My interpretation: Think about what kind of legacy we will leave with my family, friends and my associates. Although a little morbid, the exercise of writing down how we want our peers and our loved ones to remember us when we are gone provides us with a point at which we can work backwards from and develop a path from today that will lead us to that positive destination.
4. The Personal Mission Statement
My interpretation: Creating a personal mission statement provides focus and direction for the type of person we want to be. It must include the central principles for effective living in order to be effective.
5. The Time Management Matrix and Quadrant II
My Interpretation: Love quadrant 2… stay in quadrant 2!... We must learn to say no, stay focused, using our mission statement as a guide, staying principle centred.
6. The Emotional Bank Account.
My interpretation: Life becomes easier and more effective when we work to make deposits in the emotional bank accounts of the ones we love.
Understanding the individual, attending to the little things, keeping commitments, clarifying expectations, showing personal integrity and apologizing sincerely when we make a withdrawal are all key points that we must try to remember always.
7. Think Win / Win or No Deal!
My interpretation: “win / win or no deal” seems like common sense, but common sense sometimes takes a back seat to ambitions like beating sales targets, promotions, commissions, etc.
Especially in business we want the companies and customers we work with to trust that we want to win and we want them to win. For the sake of a healthy long-term business relationship this is the only way… or no deal!
So there you have it. My 7 paradigm-shifting points from “The 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People”.
- D
