The 7 Habits Curriculum - Introduction

This is going to be a short series of posts evolving around what I have and am learning about the 7 habits of Highly Effective People.

Quick Links
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 3: Put first things first
Habit 4: Think win/win
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Habit One: Be Proactive
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I am aware that I can choose my own responses to life’s challenges. I am aware that I can defy the gravity of religious tradition, societal limitations, & familial expectations. This realization is exhilarating. I decide how I’m going to respond to life and people based on my values. If these values are principle-based then I will win in the long run.

Habit Two: Begin with the end in mind
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To help with habit one I can begin with the end in mind. I can see the finished product – whether it’s my character, financial position, my relationships, my life purpose(s), etc – and then work towards bringing about these ends in my life.

Habit Three: Put first things first
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To do this I need prioritize them into my schedule. They must feature high on my list of priorities. The more I do this, the more integrity I develop & as a result of this I develop my self-confidence, self-esteem, and…

Habit Four: Think win/win
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…The abundance mentality. The AM enables me to think win/win. This is the foundation for our pubic victories. But I couldn’t have this without the foundation of my private victories first. These were established with the first 3 habits. Habit 4: “Think win/win”, enables me to live habit 5…

Habit Five: Seek first to understand, then to be understood
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Because of the abundance mentality I am not threatened by the differences in other people. As such I can genuinely listen without getting defensive and insecure. In doing this I provide much needed psychological air to people who need to just clear their conscience or get stuff off their chest, or just experss their POV.

If there is a misunderstanding then I can clear it up straight away without fear.

Habit Six: Synergize
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With a foundation of understanding behind me (gleaned from habit 5) I can then make steps towards joining forces with this person, group, or institution and create something great. Gandhi did this. Many anthropologists do this. Many great historical figures alive and dead have done this. But they also had a grasp – intuitively – on the other habits.

Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. What I bring to the table alone is enhanced & amplified when combined with what others bring.

Habit Seven: Sharpen the saw
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Then I have to go away and renew my energies & commitment to my deepest values (as outline in Habit 2). I have to increase my knowledge, my understanding, & my wisdom. This is what this habit is about. It’s the foundation that enables me to live & grow from living the 7 habits.

To sharpen the saw I take care of the four dimensions of my life:

The mental dimension
The spiritual dimension
The physical dimension
The emotional/social dimension

More on these later on in the curriculum.

That's all for now,

Class dismissed.