tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251543492011-04-21T13:05:16.245-05:00Thoughts on how life would be better if we practice the the principles found in the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-15120091727658839212008-06-30T10:24:00.000-05:002008-06-30T10:25:37.409-05:00

Is long term. This type of mentality goes beyond the immediate. It looks far ahead into the future. It tries to prevent future problems. And, it tries to provide for future needs. On other words it anticipates and foresees what could possibly happen and creates a solution now.It requires integrity. Integrity is when words, actions and motives

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-90070808029050114742008-05-12T19:52:00.000-05:002008-05-12T19:53:19.139-05:00

Win-win applies to all kinds of relationships. It is not only for businesses. It can work in marriages, families, friendships, church boards, sport teams, etc. Let us say your mother wants you to take her shopping Tuesday night, but Tuesday night you are doing your laundry. For this one time she can do your laundry, and you are now free Tuesday night to take her shopping. Your wife wants to

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-31677813801576763902008-04-09T20:32:00.000-05:002008-04-09T20:33:09.318-05:00

Does someone always have to lose for someone else to win? We live in a society where the winners take all. And, those who do not win typically leave with nothing. When the losers are given something it is called a consolation prize; not too positive. Our self worth is based on this concept of comparing and contrasting. If you are like this, you are a winner; if you are not like that you are

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-56232294179515805152008-03-12T20:17:00.001-05:002008-03-12T20:17:54.416-05:00

The Fourth habit is to think win – win. Years ago I use to watch Sesame Street. Being that it was a public television show it had no commercial ads, because it had no sponsors. So, in a joking manner, at the end of the show the announcer would say that the show was brought by the number, letter, and word of the day. Many times the word was cooperation. To demonstrate the word, after defining

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-44125718847293218062007-05-30T12:00:00.000-05:002007-05-30T12:01:59.402-05:00

Interdependence is the realization that all we do – or not do - affects others. It is the realization that we can never succeed alone. In fact, we never fail alone either. There are those who claim that they worked hard for what they have, and no one gave them anything. This is untrue. Someone offered them an opportunity at one point of their life, or gave them a hand in some way or other.

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1935981701221440432007-05-02T10:53:00.000-05:002007-05-02T10:55:53.939-05:00

Covey created a chart called the Maturity Continuum. In this chart you will find that those who have not worked in developing the first three habits of effectiveness are dependent individuals. Not only do they expect things to be given to them, they at times, also expect others to make decision for them, however regretting being under control of others. Other times they make decisions, but regret

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-24044986503919046922007-04-10T12:47:00.000-05:002007-04-27T19:33:19.841-05:00

There is a reason why this habit is subtitled the habit of personal management. Time management is a misnomer. You can only manage what you can control. By this I mean, you cannot slow down speed up or stop time. But, we do have control over choosing what we do in the time we are given. So, it is ourselves that we must learn to manage. We need to learn when to say, “Yes” and when to say “No

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-43897127589475312612007-03-14T12:31:00.000-05:002007-03-22T19:37:18.870-05:00

What are first things? Covey says, "First things are those things that you, personally, find most worth doing. They move you in the right direction and help you achieve the purpose expressed in your mission statement." First things are the big rocks. Anyhting else detracts and distracts you from yor mission. Covey uses the big rocks illustration to show how the tyranny of the urgent and the

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-53594542311910715302007-03-07T11:56:00.000-06:002007-03-07T12:44:16.710-06:00

If death is a little to morbid for you, than try another way. Think of someone you really admire. Write their name in a blank sheet of paper. Write down what you admire about them. Do not hold anything back. You are brain storming. At this point nothing is too deep or superficial. After this try to think why is this something you admire in them. What does this say about them? Let's say

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-7895693406400978012007-02-23T12:20:00.000-06:002007-02-23T12:52:17.537-06:00

Many people do not like to do things twice. Yet, effective people always do. They first create things in their mind. Before, they create it in reality. Architects may create thrice: in their minds, on paper, then in reality. So, imagination is key in this habit. Imagination is the ability to envision what we cannot yet see with our eyes. A friend I have can imagine how foods would taste

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-57038349970926869672007-02-13T20:37:00.000-06:002007-02-13T21:09:43.479-06:00

In the last few months I have been to four funerals and a wedding. (The reverse of that British movie.) If something comes out of these events, especially funerals and wakes, is the talk about how this person who dies impacted ours. If the dead could hear, I wonder if what we said would about the would be to their satisfaction. Have you ever thought about what would people say about you when

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1153255816460681832006-07-18T15:50:00.000-05:002006-07-18T15:50:16.466-05:00

As humans we have all been given four endowments that distinguish us from the animal world.  The animal world is reactive.   Animals act on instinct and impulse.  They have no capacity for free will.  Humans, however, have free will, and can exercise it, by making choices, that may go against their impulse or instinct.  (Acting on your impulse or instinct is not always wrong.)  Here are the four

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1151602741461635162006-06-29T12:39:00.000-05:002006-06-29T12:39:01.506-05:00

The dimensions of proactivity are interrelated.  They work in conjucntion with each other.  They are like a three-cord rope.  They reinforce one another.  Covey puts a lot of emphasis on the response dimension.  To illustrate what he says about it, imagine a pool table.  The pool stick hits the ball which in turn hits other balls.  A good pool player knows exactly how to hit the ball, because he

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1150220675155694672006-06-13T12:44:00.000-05:002006-06-13T12:44:35.253-05:00

This term has become a buzz word.  Many people use it, but few know what it truly is.  The first habit is to be proactive.  The Dictionary defines it as Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory.  In other words a proactive person anticipates a problem and tries to prevent it or create a solution or contigency plan for when the problem happens.  But, this is only one

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1149617409207977262006-06-06T12:54:00.000-05:002006-06-06T13:10:09.220-05:00

Covey created a graphic representation of what this continuum looks like. This webpage has a picture of this graphic and an explanation. In essence Covey says that when these seven habits are mastered one reaches the highest level of maturity which is interdependence. This word means that success and public victories can only be achieved as one works depending on others and when others can

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1148508012566237152006-05-24T17:00:00.000-05:002006-05-30T21:51:28.906-05:00

In our society, there is an trend to believe that personality is better than character.  It is no longer necessary to be, as long as you can come across as being.  The proponents of this paradigm propose that is not necessary to be honest, as long as one can come across as honest.  It is not necessary to be caring, as long as one can come across as caring.  It is not necessary to be genuinely

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1147730133888162692006-05-15T16:53:00.000-05:002006-05-15T16:55:33.906-05:00

We probably have all heard the expression “you reap what you sow.” This expression is mostly used to illustrate the law of cause and effect. However, the law of harvest is more than just cause and effect. This law says that there are stages in the process of growth. And, each stage builds on the previous one. Farmers grow in their farms by seasons. There is a season for tilling the land.

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1146780456650617582006-05-04T17:06:00.000-05:002006-05-04T17:07:36.660-05:00

This is an expression that Covey coined to use as a metaphor to help us understand how the paradigm of effectiveness works. This is a metaphor we can all relate to, because we all have to deal with money. The bank account represents the “heart’ of a person with whom we have relationships. Deposits are acts of kindness, courtesies, keeping promises, clearing expectations, being loyal to those

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1146020481931498112006-04-25T20:47:00.000-05:002006-05-04T16:27:04.960-05:00

Last week I posted that the P/PC balance is the is the paradigm of effectiveness upon which the 7 habits are based. But what is a paradigm? A paradigm is the way an individual perceives, understands, and interprets the surrounding world. In some fields of study it is commonly referred to as a frame of reference. Most commonly it is known as world view. This influences how we view ourselves

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1145381012255048342006-04-18T12:23:00.000-05:002006-04-18T15:48:33.523-05:00

Once upon a time there lived an old woman who had a number of hens, ducks, and geese. She used to send her little daughter to the meadow every day to take care of the ducks and geese. But she had one goose that she never allowed with the others. This one had a little house and yard of its own. It was such a wonderful goose that the old woman was afraid of losing it. Each day this goose laid a

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1144809116358254002006-04-11T19:38:00.000-05:002006-04-11T21:31:58.443-05:00

You have heard the old cliche, "What goes up, must come down!" That is a basic fact of reality. We know this is true because of the Laws of Gravity. Their are natural laws that govern Nature. The counterpart in the human dimension there are principles. Principles are guidelines for human conduct, that are fundamental, self evident and have proven to have enduring, permanent value. Some of

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1144201622649375362006-04-04T19:12:00.000-05:002006-04-04T20:47:02.656-05:00

According to Steven Covey is a pattern of behavior that involves three overlapping components: knowledge, skills, and desire. The knowledge component answers the question what to do and why to do it. The skills component answers the question how to do it. The desire component answers the question of wanting to do it. In any habit we have those four components are clear in our mind whether

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25154349.post-1143841951191996932006-03-31T15:36:00.000-06:002006-03-31T15:52:31.200-06:00

A few years back my sister was exposed to this book on a trip she made. She was very excited about it, so upon her arrival she told me about the book virtually as she greeted me from her trip. The book is a best seller now. And, the author, Steven Covey, a high profile writer and speaker. I can say that for me the book makes a lot of sense. To this day, I still try to follow the principles

Uleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484865630577013932noreply@blogger.com0