The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Habit 1: Be Proactive
"Habit 1 is the key to unlocking all the other habits and that's why it comes first. It says, "I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I'm responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver's seat of my destiny, not just a passenger."
What habit one means is that, being proactive means you choosing what you believe your ability is. You choose whether you will be happy or sad. You are your own character you choose what you believe is right as long as you don't go the wrong way. Like the last sentence stated, "I am in the driver's seat of my destiny. not just a passenger", what that means is that your destiny is a long journey and it is never going to end. Your journey to your destiny never ends because everyday you experience new things and you want to learn more about it. You never know what life has for you later on in your future. That is why it is up to you to determine what your life will be like and if it doesn't work then something better is coming your way. You choose everything about yourself if you don't like how you are becoming then you could change that. If you are waiting for someone to help you it will take a long time this is why you have to be proactive because it is just you who can choose what is best for you and your future.
"Proactive decisions offer us the greatest chance of success in life."
-Anonymous
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
''Control your own destiny or someone else will." (Jack Welch)
"When you know where you intend to end up, you know where you are now." (Covey)
What this means is that you have to have a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you are going so you can or could understand where you are now and so the steps you take everyday are the right steps to your destination. Everyday you have to choices to make and it's either stay in bed and keep dreaming or actually getting up and making your dreams happen. You have to start with the end outcome so you can work backwards so you could make your dreams possible. Begin with the end in mind could also mean that you need to have an idea where you want to go or be, set goals for yourself, and deciding what your values are. The path or destination that you choose can affect you. If you do not decide your own future then someone else will and you won't probably like it at the end because its not something that interest you. Your journey to your destination can be a thousand steps and it starts once you do a single step. Getting to where you want to be can be a challenge it can be a challenge because you don't know how long it will take or what the obstacles will be.
"A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true."
-Greg S. Reid
Habit 3: Put First Things First
"Organize and execute around priorities"
Always do the things that you plan on doing first and don't leave them for the last moment. Make those first things your priority and then do whatever you want to do. If those first things have meaning to you, you will make them you priority and that will be the first thing you do first. Putting first things first is an effect leadership. You will make time and have a positive attitude towards. Don't leave those first things for the last moment because you will regret it and feel like a failure. You decide weather you want to do it first because you have all the time in the world. Never let someone tell you that you can't do that first because you can do whatever you want first. No matter what there will always be time for the things that you put first.
"The older I get the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first. A process which often reduces the most complex human problem to a manageable proportion."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
Habit 4; Think Win-Win
"Think win-win or no deal."
What this habit means is that, it isn't about being nice nor is it a quick fix technique. It is a character based code for human interaction and collaboration. Most of us learn base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing–that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it’s not fair, and I’m going to make sure you don’t get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?
Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good! A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:
Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments.
Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others.
Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone.
"And we keep winning can't stop, won't stop grinning. Its like we got this habit in our minds saying, we're gonna think win-win."
-Anonymous
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
"Diagnose before you prescribe."
In order to understand something you must seek for help. You must also pay attention and listen to later to comprehend what to do. This will decrease the chances of you not understanding; and lead you to avoid questioning. However, it is important to ask for help if you don't seem to be getting a clear understanding of what to do. For example, if a student whose in class doesn't know what he or she is doing then it's important for them to ask for help. They can ask for help to a teacher, classmate, or teacher's assistance for guidance as to how to do the work. Only then will they understand because they've seeked out for help. Another example, may be that a new employer doesn't know what to do therefore, he or she asks the manager or other employers how to do the task to complete it. So listen to what other have ti say before you speak over them and not get a clear understanding of what they've said. I will try to apply Habit number five by listening more and talking less. As well as by seeking for help to those who can help me. Only then will i only get a clear understanding of what i need to do throughout the day.
"Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, react. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try."
-Ernest Hemingway
Habit 6: Synergize
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts (1+1=3)"
You have to be a team player to synergize. The key to this is to be cooperative, do your work, help yourself and your team-mates together. Help solve odd problems by thinking together on how to find the solution to fix it. Be helpful and expand your ideas; be open minded and try to solve the puzzle together. After all it is a process between all. Do whatever you can that's in your power to find the solution. For example, student's in my school and i have a project to turn in sometime soon. Therefore, we all came together as a team to help each other. We managed to communicate, cooperate our ideas and thoughts, and teach one another a thing or two. Another example, may be if your in the mathletes league and you and your team try finding the solution together by problem solving. Perhaps telling one another how to solve a certain equation and so on. Or reminding them step by step the process in doing so.I will apply this new habit by allowing myself to help other's and allowing them to help me. This is the only way possible i know that i'll be able to figure out my solution with the help of others.
"I value other people's strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different from me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people's ideas to solve problems. I know that "two heads are better than one." I am a better person when I let other people into my life and work."
-Anonymous
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
The Four Dimensions of Self-Renewal: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social/Emotional.
People should consider self-renewal, and self-care. It's what makes there health, mentality , and emotions increase to a happier state of being. For example, for your physical health you should challenge your body to be more active, eat right, laugh more and do more. Another a example of mental health would be to learn something new perhaps a new language or play brainless games. Furthermore, to improve yourself spiritually say some prayers, go to church or let out your expressions in a journal. Lastly, to improve on yourself socially and emotionally share your feelings with another person, plan social activities, show people you care about them. Give a hug to someone or telling them directly how you feel about them. I will apply habit number seven by exercising more,doing community service by volunteering, valuing other people whom i care for, and visualizing my future along with planning it along the way. Also by making time for me to relax and or meditate.
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
-Abraham Lincoln
Reflection:
In opinion, i strongly agree with the seven habits. They are truly motivating and inspirational. I have tried many of them and have received great outcomes. Moreover, they have inspired me to do greater things, and work together with others. They have also helped me physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually develop. Therefore, it is safe to say that the seven habits are highly effective to people. They will not only change your perspective but your aspect as well to do better. So i encourage my friends and others as well to be apart of the seven highly effective habits. It will teach you the proper ways of living and encourage you to apply more of them to your daily routine.
IDP hasn't been stressful this semester. My IDP hasn't been stressful this semester because, this already the fourth time that I do IDP. After a while you just start to get use to it. You don't get nervous or anything anymore. Our IDP topic is in AIDS which is pretty easy. We got the easiest topic. Each topic that were available were on viruses. Every year it's a different topic. For 11th grade we have to do internships and the other semester we do an IDP on soil and contamination. For our senior year we do the senior defence. The senior defence is when you are in a room with about two or more people and you have to convince them why you think you earned the right to graduate high school. You get to use things that you did your freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and your senior year. For example you can use a tests that have a good grade on them. You can use anything that is good to prove to the teachers and other people in the room that you need to graduate. My thought about this is that our school is just trying to prepare us for later on in life. It is trying to prepare us because when we get a job we have to talk in front of lots of people, especially if we work in an office or if your career is something big and you always have to talk. Some people may think it is dumb but it's not because our school and staff just want the best for all of us. I am looking forward to all these things that the teachers and staff have for us. 