Practice what you preach.
Plautus, Roman Playwright
I like wisdom distilled into a small number of doable takeaways, like what Stephen Covey did with his 7 Habits.
Stephen R. Covey is probably the most prominent writer promoting the importance of individual values and clarifying the meaning of work. Covey believes that leadership involves creating a culture of shared values based on people-centered principles.
Take a look at his 7 habits and see how they still resonate today:
- Be proactive. Don’t stand still. Take the initiative and be responsible.
- Begin with the end in mind. Start any activity, a meeting, run, day, or life, with an end in mind. Work to that end and make sure your values are aligned with your goals.
- Put first things first. Prioritize your life so you’re working on the important stuff.
- Think win/win. This is pretty obvious. You get what you put in.
- Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Listen to emphasize, obtain information, and understand the other person’s point of view.
- Synergize. Work to create outcomes that are greater than the individual parts.
- Sharpen the saw. Cultivate the essential elements of your character: physical, mental, social/emotional, and spiritual.
Life Lesson Earned: I think all of Stephen Covey’s habits are great. Let’s look at just one: ‘Sharpen the saw.’ When I’m conducting an interview, one of the questions I ask is: “What book have you read recently?” If the interviewee doesn’t have an answer, then a switch flips in my head. This person doesn’t keep current or sharpen his/her saw. In technology with the half-life of knowledge, not keeping up is the equivalent of professional unemployability.