I’ll admit I’m a fan of Covey’s 7 habits. I’m a fan for two reasons, 1) the habits seem to work as advertised and 2) most people have heard of the 7 habits, making the habits a ready language for discussing personal and organizational improvements.
Do you know the 7 habits?
If you don’t, or even if you need a refresher, don’t turn to most of the glossy Covey-adoration pages. Instead, Rogue Polymath has posted a short outline of the 7 habits of highly effective people, expertly condensing the habits into ready to use bites.
If you know the 7 habits, but are struggling to apply them, do you feel like you’re the only one struggling? Don’t worry; you’re not. We all struggle with applying the habits. The habits aren’t a road to perfection; they’re just excellent tips for how you may, if you choose, organize your life to get more of what makes you happy more often for many more years. And, who wouldn’t want that?
At the end of his post, Rogue Polymath asks:
Anyone have a personal story of how the seven habits have made a
positive affect on their lives?
Here’s one of my 7 habits stories: I often neglect the restful parts of Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw.
Though habit 7 isn’t an encouragement to do more, I often read it that way. More reading. More exercise. More something.
Instead, I should read it as a prompting to do more of what matters when it most matters, so I’ll be at my best when the big challenges come. I often forget the part encouraging me to lay up stores of energy, or rest, or whatever, so that I can be ready for the next sprint. I need to learn that rest sharpens my saw.
Learning my lesson, I’m going to devote the remainder of tonight to rest, something I don’t get enough of, and often don’t allow myself enough of. Good night my readers! I’m off to rest.
Very true. ‘Stop doing these’ lists can be more important than ‘to do’ lists. Thanks for the link love.
I have this idea in my head that not even Stephen Covey himself applies the 7-Habits all of the time. I get the opportunity to teach the 7-Habits (in fact I have a class next week) on a regular basis and certainly do not live the 7-Habits as much as I could… or should.
I do think about them… A LOT. To me, the 7-Habits are fundamental principles in my head that I know, if followed, will make me a more effective person (I guess the title of the book gives that away).
I’m to the point now where I recognize when I need to use a habit. For example, I know I need to sharpen the saw right now. I haven’t taken any classes or read any good literature in a while, and I could use some good mental exercise.
Also, I really need to put first things first. I’ve let my inbox grow to a size where it is very inefficient and I need to plan my week better.
The 7-Habits has given me the ability to recognize the action I need to take, but taking that action is sometimes a different story 🙂
BTW, I <3 the write-up Rogue. Very concise yet comprehensive.