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As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. Sometimes it clarifies things to look at what we SHOULDN”T do; making it easier to understand what we SHOULD do.

The Seven Habits of Highly INEFFECTIVE People:

o    Be Reactive, let others push your buttons, control your moods/emotions/life.

o    Work without any clear end in mind. Don’t plan or think things through.

o    Do the urgent thing first; let others, random events prioritize your energies.

o    Think Win/Lose: Look out for yourself first, especially in relationships where you are most vulnerable

o    Seek first to be understood, don’t waste time listening in depth, you are ready know what they are going to say

o    Fear change, people or things that are different; defend, justify, rationalize (rational lies) your comfort zone.

o    You know everything already, heard it all a thousand times before. Grab that remote and chill! You’ve earned it! – Author Unknown

In contrast, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey:

o    Habit 1: Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your choices and the consequences that follow. Pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other too!

o    Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind: Create a plan for your life, have written goals for all your life roles and action plans with targets and deadlines.

o    Habit 3: Put First Things First: Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least. Big Rocks First!

o    Habit 4: Think Win-Win: Seek mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people.

o    Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: When you listen first, you make a tremendous emotional bank account deposit. When people feel genuinely valued, respected and understood relationships are stronger and solutions are much easier to achieve

o    Habit 6: Synergize: Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could have done alone.

o    Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Be a Life Long Learner, embrace continuous learning.

7 habits

The Maturity Continuum: Each of the 7 Habits is based on principles of effectiveness, paradigms that are aligned with principles, and practices that produce effective results.