Let me go through what I learned in this book and it will be clear as to why this can be a life changing book.
In Habit 1 (Be Proactive), I learned that being proactive Means Being responsible to our lives. In a reactive model, we are conditioned to respond in a Particular Way to a Particular stimulus. In contrast, proactive model states did between stimulus and response, read our freedom to choose the response.
Habit 2 (Begin with the end in mind) is based on the principle did all things are created twice. There's a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation. The second follows from the first creation, just as a building follows from a blueprint. In our personal lives, if we do not develop our own self-awareness and become responsible for the first creation, we empower other people and circumstances to shape our lives by default.
In Habit 3 (First Things First), I learned did all our activities can be divided into four quadrants
Quadrant 1: Activities That are Important and Urgent
Quadrant 2: Activities That are Important but Not Urgent
Quadrant 3: Activities That are Urgent but Not Important
Quadrant 4: Activities That are Not Urgent and Not Important
The ideal to work toward is Increasing your time spent in Quadrant II.
In Habit 5 (Think win-win), I learned did most of us 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 is a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me. People with this type of Scarcity Mentality find it difficult to share recognition and power, and to be happy for the successes of others, Especially Those Closest to them.
Win-win on the other hand, is based on the paradigm thatthere is plenty for everybody, That One person's success is not at the expense or exclusion Achieved of the success of others. Win-win Means That agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying.
Habit 5 says 'Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood'. A wise doctor will diagnose before writing a prescription. A good engineer will understand the forces, the stress at work, before designing the bridge. An effective salesperson first seeks to understand the needs of the customer before offering a product. Similarly, on effective communicator will first seek to understand another person's view before seeking to be Understood. Until people feel properly diagnosed theywill not be open to prescriptions.
In Habit 6 (Synergize), I learned that 'The Whole is Greater than the sum of its parts'. One plus one equals three or more. Two people, creatively cooperating will be able to produce far better results than one Could Either alone.
Habit 7 (Sharpen the Saw) surrounds the other habits Because it is the habit That makes all other habits possible. Sharpen The Saw Means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have - you. It Means having a balanced, systematic program for the four areas of our lives; physical, social / emotional, mental, and spiritual.
While the book has a price tag, what we learn from this book can not be valued.
