The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Reflection

The 7 habits have been change the way I think in different perspectives. I have been using all the 7 habits. If it's, be proactive, begin with an end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek to understand then to be understood, synergize, or sharpening the saw. I was in the midst of doing my college application and when I started to do it all I remember was how can apply the 7 habits to my college application. I was being proactive when I was seeking out for information about colleges. This took a lot of time and effort, but I was on task and proactive so I finished with time to spare. I began with end mind because I knew I was doing my college plan, I wanted to apply to college. As of right now I am very anxious because I want to be accepted and that's thinking with a win win mentally. In doing this I got a lot of advice from teachers and counselors, so much that I could've help others on their college application, and that was seek to understand, then to be understood. I was also working with teachers as a team to finish my applications. I was also sharpening the sword when I was doing my application with my teachers and counselor. The 7 habits have taught me new methods on how to expand my knowledge.

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."

Being proactive is a great habit to have, because you never waste any time. Being proactive allows you to have more free time. For example, let's say I have a lot of homework, but I have one week to do it. If I do the homework on the first day I get it then, I'll have the rest of the week to myself. I always try to be proactive because I love taking naps and playing basketball, so I need to do my homework quick, so I could have a 2 hour nap then play basketball until I have to got to sleep. When I am not being proactive I usually take a long and cold shower to wake me up. Being proactive also allows me to carve out my own journey. It allows me to do whatever I want to do not what others want me to do. What the quote above states is that when you are proactive you are the main man, the person with say. Nobody can tell you nothing because it is your journey and you will manage it in whatever way you want to. Being proactive also means you are a leader. Your leader, because you are following your own passion and not following someone else's passion. 

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

"Control your own destiny or someone else will." (Jack Welch)

Begin with an end mind kind of sounds like begin with an end goal. Goals are quite helpful with this habit. Let's say if I'm setting goals for myself, at the end of the day you started with a goal but also what you want to accomplish. This habit will help you control your life. Allowing you to be the catalyst of your accomplishments. For example, when the teacher asks where you want to go to school and they say UCLA, yet they have not done nothing to reach that goal. They did not have the end goal in mind. They just said they "want". Even though they are not working towards that goal. Whenever I make goals, I try to keep them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic,and Timely) so I can be able to start and finish my goals just like keeping the end in mind. Just like Jack Welch states"Control your own destiny or someone else will". You don't want others being able to control your destiny you should be the catalyst and leader of your life.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

"Organize and execute around priorities." 

Decide what is most important and to take care of that first.  Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming, especially for children.  Learning to think of which things are the most important and taking care of them first allows children to be less stressed. I spend time on things that are most important.  This means I say no to things I know I should not do.  I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan.  I am disciplined and organized.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

"Think win-win or no deal."

You always want a mindset of winning. You never want to lose because then you're not succeeding in life. Having that mindset of winning will allow you have an advantage because now you'll have the confidence to win. Many that do have this mindset are usually the successful people. People that have this win win mindset usually win. For example, Kobe Bryant would always play even if he was injured. He would do this just because he wanted to win and had that win or win mindset. I try to have that same mindset because I hate when I lose, it drives me crazy. So when I am injured I play through it, but this mindset also has its flaws because since I didn't want to come out I hurt my knee pretty bad. So that is why I try to calm myself down. Many people in my opinion just need to push through. Because their is a difference between great and greatness. 

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood

"Diagnose before you prescribe."

What I think this means is, you should be good listener and learn what things are about before you start teaching other people. This is a great message because it shows how you should learn to be taught before teaching. I could remember a time when my coach told the whole team and said " I know you can play, anyone can play. It's a matter if you can understand the process". In many ways I seek first to understand when I am at school learning how to do something like an essay. Now that I know how to do an essay I can now teach people the basic structure of an essay. Some people like it the easy way. For example, when students talk during class then, when it comes to the test they don't know anything. They will often cheat on that test. I always want to learn because it gives me a greater chance to go to college. All in all what this means is just to listen first.

Habit 6: Synergize

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts(1+1=3)"

Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It also means to be open minded and work as a team to work on solution to problems. This word is quite new to me never heard of it, but know that I have done some research its very important to be synergize. An example of synergize is any type of team. Every team has to be open minded towards new ideas and they also have to work as a team. This is a great example because are only as good as their worst player. By getting the others involved will help them grow to better players. I did not know what this word meant before, but now that I know it I want to use it my everyday life. This mentality of being synergize will my trait of being a leader. I would like that leader trait to be the strongest. Me being the leader will allow me to control my own destiny. I want the keys to the car and ride waves of reality.

Habit 7:  Sharpen the Saw

Four Dimensions of Self-Renewal: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social/Emotional

What I think this metaphor means is to practice. If you practice everyday then you'll be more experience that's what is means by sharpening the saw. It can be by any four social/emotional, spiritual, mental, or physical. Here is a physical example, if I practice everyday in soccer than more likely than not I will be better. By practicing it will increase my production on the field. I like this example on sports, but you can use it in education. Like when you're studying for that final exam, so you study all night. By studying all night you are sharpening the saw for the exam you are about to take. This is a great example because it shows how you can sharpen the saw physical or mentally. Spiritual example can be you studying your religion so you can be at peace with GOD. Another way to sharpen the saw socially and emotionally can be by helping out other so your emotions and their emotions are at peace. Theses examples are great because it shows you how to use them in the real world.