The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People English Language Essay

The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People English Language Essay In todays competitive world, looking for your next advantage is an ongoing exercise that requires a commitment to continuous improvement, reflection and a candid belief that the process of learning never ends. Some say that the day that you stop learning, is the day that you stop living and so comes one of the great minds on personal development, Dr. Stephen R. Convey author of the critically acclaimed book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to assist with that process. Before our analysis of 7 Habits, I will provide some information and background on the author, Covey. Covey is the author of several books including the international best seller, 7 Habits, a book named the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century and one of the top-ten most influential management books every. The book has been sold more than 15 million copies in thirty-eight languages throughout the world. Dr. Covey holds a M.B.A from Harvard University and a doctorate from Brigham Young Univer sity, where he was a professor of organizational behavior and business management.  [1]  With such esteemed credentials, the book 7 Habits presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. In his writings, Dr. Covey defines a step-by-step framework for living and working based on fundamental principles that provide the reader with the wisdom and power that change reveals and creates.  [2]  The book is divided into four primary sections, first principles, Private Victory, Public Victory and Renewal, through which revealing seven effective habits that one should pursue if they are to be effective in their professional and personal lives in bring about change. The following analytical essay seeks to describe each of these seven effective habits and analyze each of them would apply in ones life, be it professional or personal. In his first chapters, Dr. Covey seeks to set out the fundamental framework for all other Habits are based on, Principles. These habits represent the internalization of correct principles upon which enduring happiness and success are based.  [3]  Covey establishes the need to create a paradigm shift that involves changing the way we view the world. The events may be completely identical, however, the manner in which we view and interpret them need to be altered in order to make a problem situation into an opportunity i.e. make lemons into lemonade. This very same concept was demonstrated while attending a new release film, featuring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston titled Love Happens. In the film Eckhart, an author of a book on self motivation, takes a group of readers down into the streets of Seattle into the middle of a busy intersection, stopping traffic and then asking the group of people to describe what they see in an effort to demonstrate an important point. Traffic! No ise! Honking! Cursing! Anger! Frustration! Concrete buildings, shouted the people from the group as they stood blocking busy downtown traffic. Eckhart, then took the group of people back into the hotel up to the rooftop and once again asked the same question, Now describe what you see, asked Eckhart. Sunshine, rivers, horizon, open roads, HOPE!. Eckhart went on to describe the very concept that Covey describes as he opens the papers to his book on 7 Habits a shift in paradigm, changing your view of the world and good things will follow. What you are seeing is the same (i.e. the city) but seen from different perspectives (i.e. street vs. rooftop) and consequently they offer a different feeling and outlook on life. The first step in 7 Habits begins with the author moving the reader to shift our perspective. An additional example of this is illustrated by Convey by presenting two photos (one of an old lady and one of a young woman) combined into one where the viewer, since they were e xposed to one or the another of the pictures only sees the original picture that they were exposed. In his writing, 7 Habits explores a principle-centered, character-based, inside-out approach to personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Inside-out means to start first with self; even more fundamentally, to start with the most inside part of self with your paradigms, your character, and your motives.  [4]   I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life conscious endeavor, Henry David Thoreau. The chapter on Habit 1 describes principles of personal vision and the paradigm of Being Proactive. The Habit of Being Proactive is described as achievable through first learning to control our language and avoiding the use of reactive phrases. Lets compare and contrast reactive and proactive phrases: theres nothing I can do versus lets look at our alternatives, I have to do that versus I will choose an appropriate response. The next mechanism under Habit 1 is being aware of the Circle of Concern/Influence. This concept is best explained using the illustration below: Circle of Influence Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things that they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their circle of influence to increase. Reactive people, on the other hand, focus on the Circle of Concern. They focus on the weakness of other people, they problems in the environment, and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feeling of victimization. Focusing on this, will result in Circle of Influence to shrink.  [5]  Building on the vision of self-fulfilling prophecy, leveraging the power of positive thinking, combined with control over our language to help yield positive results, with the opposite also being true, negative thoughts will result in the same. We control our happiness, since it starts and ends with the state of mind and in a position of power or influence, one can only be e ffective if he/she makes strides to radiate this energy. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us, Oliver Wendell Holmes. Under Principles of Personal Leadership, Covey introduces Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. This Habit describes the idea of a paradigm built on four primary factors, power, security, wisdom and finally, guidance. There are several others including money, family, work, etc but I will chose to focus of the first four. The four factors are described to be interdependent and when present together, harmonized and enlivened by each other, they create the great force of a noble personality, a balanced character, a beautifully integrated individual. The location of these factors on the continuum, the resulting degree of their integration, harmony, and balance, and their positive impact on every aspect of your life is a function of your centre, the basic paradigms at your very core. Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least, Goethe. Habit 3 develops the Time Management Matrix, through a habit titled Put First Things, First. The idea behind this habit is primarily, prioritizing based on whether the task is important versus not important and urgent versus not urgent. Being a person of influence and being effective in life is based on your ability to operate effectively with finite resources. There is never enough time to do get it all done. But making the best with what you have and focusing on the important and urgent matters will lead to effective leadership. The next set of Habits revolves around securing the Public Victory and migrating from Independence to Interdependence. This migration involves moving the interests of the many into a cohesive set of values, concepts and vision. As summarized by Samuel Johnson, the paradigms of interdependence are best noted through the following quote: There can be no friendship without confidence and no confidence without integrity. Within his discussions on paradigms of interdependence, Convey wrestles with several philosophies related to building cohesion with individuals and describes the Emotional Bank Account, a concept that notes relationships require that one make frequent deposits through courtesy, kindness and keeping commitments. These deposits, are needed in the journey to effectively mobilizing individuals and creating interdependencies in relationships. What makes you effective as an individual, is not necessarily true as a leader leadership is not management and it is important to dis tinguish between them. As a leader, responsible for the vision of a group, it is needed that you have the support of your team and draw on the reserves (withdrawals) from the emotional bank account in order to maximizing the return of your planned assignment and/or project. We have committed he Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life, Edwin Markham. Habit 4 Think Win/Win is an eye-opening concept that looks to build synergies between individuals by teaching one to change their frame of mind and heart to constantly look for mutual benefit in all human interactions. This means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial, mutually satisfying. With a Win/Win solution, all parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan.  [6]  The paradigms of interaction through Win/Win are divided into six sections in order to assist an individual avoid the traps: Win/Win, Win/Lose, Lose/Win, Lose/Lose, Win and finally Win/Win or No Deal. The specifics of each individual paradigm are a bit too detailed and perhaps out of scope, however, I conclude analysis of this concept with an observation that each person must work hard to understand the interest of all parties if they are to arrive at resolutions that secure longevity in commitment to the cause, project, relation and so forth. Representing each parties interests when arriving at resolutions, serves to ensure that the diversity of concept allows for the needed commitment to ensure that the initiative is seen through. Win/win as described by Covey is not a personality technique. It is a total paradigm of human interaction. It comes from a character of integrity and maturity. It grows out of high-trust relationships, embodied in agreements that effectively clarify and manage expectations as well as accomplishment. It thrives through supportive systems built on culminating and supportive environment built to last with humility and self determination. The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of, Pascal. In the chapter of Principles of Empathic Communication, Covey simply breaks down the process of effective communication into the most basic definition which is listening for the purpose of understanding. This effort, described in Habit 5 as Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood works to explain to the reader that effective people listen more than talk. Hence humans were created with two ears and only one mouth, right? Covey sets out the principles and defines under the act of ignoring, pretending, selective, attentive and finally empathetic. Under each of these definitions of listening the ultimate goal is to first set out understand what the other partys main idea and decode it using effective methods of using probing questions, being empathetic to the other persons position and them moving into seeking to be understood. A common trap everyone is victim of. No one wants to be misunderstood, may it be cultural or language, non-verbal distractions effecting the transmission of ones message the goal and failure are closely linked to the receivers ability to properly listen to what and how the message is being delivered. As a receiver, be the first to lead by working hard to understand the ultimate goal of what is being said, then recapping what is being said to provide the sender with a certain level of comfort, then set out to deliver your message. Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little thingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I am tempted to thinkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦there are no little things, Bruce Barton. The 6th and the third in the process of transferring from Independence to Interdependence, Convey introduces the Habit of Synergizing. Synergy is a natural part of nature. Our ecosystem is built on the synergies between environment, the elements, its inhabitants, all working in tandem to support the renewal and progression of the natural world. Family life provides many opportunities to observe synergy and to practice it, says Covey in his chapter of Principles of Creative Cooperation. The very way a man and a woman bring a child into the world is synergistic. The essence of synergy is to value differences to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses. The differences between the genders in this example, support the concept of strength in diversity through synergizing since each one person nu rtures a self-esteem and self worth that creates an opportunity for each to mature into independence and gradually move into interdependence.  [7]  Synergizing requires a high level of trust and cooperation to mobilize effectively. It is a natural being of the highest complexity that comes from creating an environment conducive to a network connected with the raw emotions of human trust, cooperation, belonging, all combined together to make for a sustainable goal of achieving a common objective. There is no real excellence in this entire world which can be separated from the right living, David Starr Jordon. The 7th and final Habit, is Sharpen the Saw, the very idea that we began with continuous improvement and self reflection. Though we may think weve mastered the 6 Habits to effective people, we must remained honest in knowing that we will always need to look back and reconsider how were interpreting the world in order to continue to progress effectively. This is the commitment is to preserve and enhance the greatest asset you have you.  [8]  This is represented by renewing the four dimensions of your nature physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional. The four dimensions of yourself are the elements that form and sharpen your character and well being. Mental Dimension, like your physical being, requires exercise and proper nutrition in the form of literature, writing, strategic thinking and formulating ideas through the written word. Social/Emotional Dimension is gratified through giving back to society in service, charity, being empathetic to those in need and giving back in one form or another. Spiritual Dimension is belief in an absolute truth that formulates the greater purpose in this life. This is fundamental trust and belief in a greater Being that helps to make sense of what cannot be logically explain of life events. The Physical Dimension is the primal need to preserve your physical well being through exercise, proper nutrition and a sound outlet to overcome and manage the stress of life. Seven Habits. Neatly organized in three hundred and seven two pages, supported with examples and personal insights by one of the most acclaimed business academics of the modern age. Where does the thesis of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People stand in my mind after reviewing it in thorough detail? Simply, I agree. Covey is not the first or the last to write a self help book, looking to organize the soft elements of life into nice boxes and short lists that people are can follow to find the great answer to lifes struggle. But 7 Habits isnt just about cute habits organized in boxes. It starts with building on a fundamental concept etched with something everyone needs to be successful in their affairs personal principles. Covey never looks to advocate the laundry list of principles that one should follow to govern their decision matrix. The underlying principles must be based on ones own personal values. Each individual has a value set based on the elements that their life has exposed them to. Regardless of your personal faith, gender, even professional or academic background the principles and Habits outlined by Covey transcend to provide the reader with a scripture and guide that they can use to be more effective in their life, both professionally and academically. No one will ever define the formula of life, but we can train ourselves to understand the decision making paradigms to help make more consistent choices that mobilize first ourselves as individuals, then those interdependent organizations seeking unity and synergy towards that shared objective. 7 Habits is not a self help book, its a book of self reflection to help oneself achieve what they are destined to become. Starting with understanding our personal values, Covey moves the reader through Private Victory: Dependence to Independence by mastering Being Proactive, Beginning with the End in Mind and Putting Fist Things first. Public Victory: Independence to Interdependence by mastering think Win/Win, Synergize, Seek First to Understand, then Be Understood. And that invaluable commitment to continuous improvement and preserving your essential being with Sharpen the Saw. Is 7 Habits the best book I have ever read? Not really. Does it present ideas never considered? No. Then, what makes it great? The unity, simplicity and trust in you as a reader to find the answer within yourself. It takes a wise person, one with an MBA from Harvard perhaps, to understand that you cannot possibly write a book that would transcend 30-some languages and millions of copies with a message that would be applicable to all. It is the courage to provide a framework tailored to personal and individual values that allows everyone to consider this a guiding light to greater prosperity.

The Great Land Serpent

For starters, the train Is being portrayed as a serpent, and In biblical terms, the serpent Is an evil creature that lures Innocent people to betraying others. In the cartoon It stretches across the land Into the horizon, In a curvy motion, which shows how wide spread this creature Is, and showing how there Is no escaping It. The creature Is consuming money and people through Its mouth which shows what Is powering it as well as what it takes to create it. Close to the top of this creature is a hole for smoke to blow out of, which homilies the damage it does to the environment.In the smoke there is also a word written, dividend. According to the dictionary, dividend means a sum of money paid to shareholders. There is also another word cleverly hidden in the cartoon, on the street corner, it reads â€Å"Dangerous†, and when you put these two words together, you are able to come to the conclusion that the author doesn't think that the railroad is worth the risks and money. Anothe r important aspect to this cartoon is the human standing to the side.His resent may be to show that humans are responsible for this horrible creation that is in turn killing them. You are able to tell that he is raising his hand but it's hard to tell is he is saying to stop or continue on. By showing the train/creature running over many dead bodies and lots of money, it's clear the author disapproves. â€Å"The Great Land Serpent† symbolizes how the railroad is similar to a beasts evil creature. It's very apparent that it's negative because its' getting its' energy from the dead bodies, money, and manpower.The painter makes it a point to show his disapproval of the railroad and how evil his believes it to be. The author must have been greatly affected by the railroad system to cast such a negative light on It In this political cartoon. The Great Land Serpent By middleman 2 This political cartoon, titled â€Å"The Great Land Serpent,† casts the railroad and its were exp ensive, and had to be maintain constantly. Also it cut Jobs, because it eliminated the need for people to transport items from one place to another. Lord. For starters, the train is being portrayed as a serpent, and in biblical terms, the serpent is an evil creature that lures innocent people to betraying others. In the cartoon it stretches across the land into the horizon, in a curvy motion, which shows how wide spread this creature is, and showing how there is no escaping it.

The Last Night (from Charlotte Gray)

Compare and contrast the ways in which adults and children are presented in the extract. The adults and children are presented differently in the extract through their actions, reactions and feelings. This extract deals with the helplessness of being sent to a concentration camp, conveying the effects of the departure on them, the adult’s powerlessness to the event, and the children’s resistance. In the extract, the adults are presented as being aware of what was going on, and of their current situation. They know where they’re going, and what it’s like in concentration camps. They are completely aware of their fate, yet they did not resist it, or try to prevent it from happening. Although they did not do anything significant to try and change their horrific fate in the concentration camps, in their minds, they were trying to stop it from occurring, by refusing to drink coffee. That is significant because the coffee means a lot more than just coffee for drinking. It meant ‘breakfast, and therefore the departure. ’ By refusing to drink coffee, it meant they didn’t have breakfast yet, and therefore their departure is belated. The adults are also portrayed as being restless and powerless, it could be because they’re scared, or maybe because they know they can’t do anything, and have accepted their fate. This makes me as a reader feel sympathy for the adults as they have no choice and are unable to control their life and fate. The writer used strong adjectives to describe the state the adults in, it helps the reader sympathise with the adults and understand their feelings, provoking a sense of grief. The writer used adjectives such as ‘sobbing passion’ to describe the state in which some of the adults wrote their letters back home in. It makes the reader visualise that, and almost hear it. This conveys sorrow, as they are sobbing passionately, meaning it’s deep and from the bottom of their hearts. As a reader, I find that very touching, and it makes me feel some of their sorrow, like it was my own. The writer also described the adult’s actions and feelings in such a way; it will leave an impact on the reader, and making it unforgettable. ‘The way in which they were remembered, depended upon their choice of words. ’ I find that quite ironic, as the writer’s words and how he described this is memorable. This provokes a sense of sympathy from the reader, as this portrays restlessness, and that the adults have given in and accepted their fate, without fighting back. It also provokes a sense of sadness, as the adults do not want to be forgotten by their families, just as the writer does not want them to be forgotten by us. It sounds final. On the other hand, the children are ignorant and do not fully understand the situation. They are only aware of the fact that they are going to a concentration camp, but do not understand the horrors of that. That makes the reader feel pity for the children. Unlike the adults, they are resistant to this, and try to stop it. ‘In the filthy straw they dug their heels and screamed. ’ The reactions of the children portray the simplicity of their minds, and how to them this is a normal journey; not a fateful one. This is also shows by ‘their ability to fall asleep where they lay, to dream of other places. ’ That is also quite ironic, as the place they are going to, is a nightmare rather than a dream. The children are also left with nothing, but each other, ‘Jacob’s limbs were intertwined with his for warmth. This conveys how little they have, and how they count on each other, despite their young age. They don’t even have heat to keep warm, so they rely on each other for that. This makes me feel pity for these children as a reader. The children are also thankful for what little they have, ‘One of the older boys embraced her in his gratitude, but the bucket was soon empty. ’ This convey s misfortune, and makes the reader feel pity for them. ‘Some of the children were too small to manage the step up and had to be helped on by gendarmes,’ this shows how young they are; they are unable to get on the platform of the bus. This portrays the unjust and cruelty of the situation, little children who are unable to get on the platform of the bus are being sent to concentration camps, to face the most horrific times of their lives at such an age. They will be forever psychologically scarred. The adults and children are presented in completely different ways, yet we sympathise for both. As they are both about to face the same thing, except the children don’t know what they’re going to face. As a reader I sympathise for the children more, as they are innocent and young, and do not deserve to go through such a thing at a young age.

Social Injustice Invisibility and Suppression Among...

A distinctive feature in post-1865 American literature is the recurrent motif of suppression among minority groups in the United States. The literature provided in the Heath Anthology reflects minority citizens like African Americans, Hispanics, and women. American literature during the 20th century serves as a critical lens to examine the social injustices faced by minority groups. Minority artists use literature to examine and redefine their pre-determined role in society. The critically acclaimed African American scholar, W.E.B. DuBois, contends the strife of minority groups (specifically African Americans) in the United States. DuBois sets the opening scene for other African American literary artists who use literature as a means of†¦show more content†¦According to Pietris’ self-reflection it leads to a solution for Hispanics (more specifically Puerto Ricans) living in the United States. In Pietri’s poem he claims, â€Å"if only they [Puerto Ricans] / had used the white supremacy bibles / for toilet paper purpose / and made their latino souls / the only religion of their race† (Pietri lines 277-280). Pietri in these lines is lamenting the destruction of Hispanic heritage. He claims that the notions of the American dream are forced upon them. That in order to move forward as a race they have to consciously refuse to assimilate. Pietri is asking all Hispanic-Americans (or any minority group) to turn to their true values. An idealized world that is balanced between Hispanic and American culture is not difficult to achieve if an individual or a group of minorities acknowledge both of their identities. Another common minority group represented in the Heath Anthology is women. Women, unfortunately, face the same suppression and scrutiny as African Americans and Hispanics. The distinctive common occurrence in women’s literature is the concept of invisibility and suppression. In Maxine Hong Kingston’s’ short story No Name Woman, she incorporates American and Chinese culture and the expectations of women in society. The protagonist tells of a story of her aunt who did not follow the towns’ expectations of child bearing. As the protagonist delves into the fact, she reveals subtle information making the readerShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesperspectives on the past) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4399-0269-1 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4399-0270-7 (paper : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4399-0271-4 (electronic) 1. History, Modern—20th century. 2. Twentieth century. 3. Social history—20th century. 4. World politics—20th century. I. Adas, Michael, 1943– II. American Historical Association. D421.E77 2010 909.82—dc22 2009052961 The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard