Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Miniature Edition
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People was designed for the business world, but I read it to get a grip on how to balance my work, outside-work and everything else in my life. It was a groundbreaker when it was first published in 1990, and it continues to be with more than 10 million copies sold. What most people don’t know is that it is included in the Marine Corps reading list, as an all-round good book for all Marines. Here’s why: The habits are no-brainers and easily accomplished by paying attention and making an effort. Here they are:
- Habit 1: Be Proactive–Taking responsibility for your choices and the consequences of them
- Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind–Figure out what’s important to you and pursue that. Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve
- Habit 3: Put First Things First–Prioritize. Do what must be done before why you want to do. P
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win –While you achieve your goals, don’t worry that others win, also. That’s OK. That’s even a good thing.
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood–Really listen to people you talk to and answer their concerns. If they see you paying attention, they’ll do the same.
- Habit 6: Synergize –It takes a village. Margaret Meade said that before Hillary Clinton, but they’re both right. Combine what you have to offer with others. Delegate to the stronger. You’ll accomplish more.
- Habit 7: Sharpen the saw–make this part of you. Live it. Be it. Reflect it.
Isn’t this what you’d like to see in people around you? Wouldn’t you like this person for a friend, or colleague? When you answer that, you can see why this book became so popular.
Jacqui Murray is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman. She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, and a weekly contributor to Write Anything and Technology in Education. Currently, she’s working on a techno-thriller that should be ready this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
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By: USMC: The Summer Reading List « USNA or Bust! on January 17, 2011
at 5:55 pm
I’ve never read this book, but I really should. I’ve heard so many empowering things about it. I think “Habit 1″ is something everyone should especially learn to live by!
By: BioScientific on July 26, 2011
at 12:05 pm
They are as much common sense as anything else, but they remind us what that means so we don’t get confused. I found it interesting the USMC included it on their list of must-reads. It says a lot about the mental in battle.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 26, 2011
at 2:02 pm
[...] Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Professional Development) [...]
By: Military Book Reviews–Help! « USNA or Bust! on August 5, 2011
at 11:54 am
[...] Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Professional Development) [...]
By: Military Book Reviews–Help! « Jacqui Murray's WordDreams… on August 11, 2011
at 8:13 am
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By: Be Featured on Ask a Tech Teacher « Ask a Tech Teacher on November 8, 2012
at 7:23 am