Begin With the End in Mind

  05/20/2021

Stephan Covey first invites us to think about how we want people to remember us. Then introduces habit #2 in the '7 Habits of Highly Effective People': begin with your end goal in mind.

Do you have goals or a to-do list? If your targets don't force you to be a better person, then you're being busy and not productive. When you can imagine your future self, you're more willing to be in control of your life. You won't allow your circumstances or people to decide who you become. But identifying the end goal that’s right for you requires self-awareness.

Knowing who you want to become not only gives you a sense of purpose. It also encourages habits that take you closer to your end goal.
To better understand ourselves, Covey recommends assessing our:

Guides: the beliefs and principles that give our lives direction. We base our actions and everyday decisions on this mindset.

Power: our strength and capability to take action and complete something. Our willingness to change is essential to forming new, effective habits.

Security: is based on our self-esteem, personal strength, identity and sense of self-worth. All of these are important for loving ourselves through the self-improvement process.

Wisdom: the perspective we form based on our judgment and comprehension of situations.

When all these factors align, he further recommends writing a personal mission statement. It's a physical aid to get clear on your ideal character, values and social contribution.
The key to the productivity you want is mindset work. Add Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to your reading list, and begin your self-improvement journey.

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