Sharpen the saw

A few years back I read a book...The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, a self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey. The reason I read the book is that I was looking for something that would make me a better manager, and I needed to examine what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong.

Today, I am going for an interview, and before I do, I am examining the Habits again...just to remind myself of a few things I need to remember...

A Principled Approach

Throughout the book Covey points to principles as the focus. The book presents the principles as an approach rather than a set of behaviors. The book imparts the principles in four sections.

Paradigms and Principles. Here, Covey introduces the basic foundation for the creation of the habits.
Private Victory. Here, Covey introduces the first three habits intended to take a person from dependence to independence, or one's ability to be self-reliant. You must be able to win your private victories before you can start on your public victories. If you start to win your public victories first, how can you feel good about yourself and still work on habits...
Public Victory. Here, Covey introduces habits four through six which are intended to lead to interdependence, the ability to align one's needs and desires with those of other people and create effective relationships.
Renewal. Here, Covey introduces the final habit which directs the reader to begin a process of self-improvement.
Principals matter...and without them the habit of leadership really cannot happen. We all know what the habits are if we think about them...but here they are if you really need to know.

The Seven Habits

The chapters are dedicated to each of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives:

First Habit - Be Pro-active. Here, Covey emphasizes the original sense of the term "proactive" as coined by Victor Frankl. You can either be proactive or reactive when it comes to how you act about certain things. Being "proactive" means taking responsibility for everything in life. When you're reactive, you blame other people and circumstances for obstacles or problems. Initiative and taking action will then follow. Covey shows how man is different from animals in that he has self consciousness. He has the ability to detach himself and observe his own self, think about his thoughts. He goes on to say how this attribute enables him. It gives him the power not to be affected by his circumstances. Covey talks about 'Stimulus and Response'. Between Stimulus and Response, we have the power to choose the response.
Begin with the End In Mind. This chapter is about setting long-term goals based on "true-north principles". Covey recommends formulating a "personal mission statement" to document one's perception of one's own purpose in life. He sees visualization as an important tool to develop this. He also deals with organizational mission statements, which he claims to be more effective if developed and supported by all members of an organization, rather than being prescribed.
Put First Things First. Here, Covey describes a framework for prioritizing work that is aimed at long-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear to be urgent, but are in fact less important. Delegation is presented as an important part of time management. Successful delegation, according to Covey, focuses on results and benchmarks that are to be agreed in advance, rather than on prescribing detailed work plans.
Think Win/Win describes an attitude whereby mutually beneficial solutions are sought, that satisfies the needs of oneself as well as others, or, in the case of a conflict, both parties involved.
Seek First to Understand, Then to be understood. Covey warns that giving out advice before having empathetically understood a person and their situation will likely result in that advice being rejected. Thoroughly listening to another person's concerns instead of reading out your own autobiography is purported to increase the chance of establishing a working communication.
Synergize describes a way of working in teams. Apply effective problem solving. Apply collaborative decision making. Value differences. Build on divergent strengths. Leverage creative collaboration. Embrace and leverage innovation. It is put forth that, when this is pursued as a habit, the result of the teamwork will exceed the sum of what each of the members could have achieved on their own. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Sharpen the saw focuses on balanced self-renewal. Regaining what Covey calls "productive capacity" by engaging in carefully selected recreational activities.

The one habit I never quite got to was Sharpening the Saw...and believe me, that is a habit that you need to have in your tool box.

I spent years working endless hours and more vacations put off than I would ever like to admit. Sometimes it appeared necessary, but the truth is, it is never that necessary. And it really is not wise. Since then, I give advice to every workaholic that I know....Sharpen the saw. Have fun, outside of work...it is necessary.

I don't know if I will get the job...things are more complex for a woman over 50 in the world of management...however, even if I don't...that is just part of the process. And you know something, I am learning that nothing in life is so difficult as losing faith and hope.

So...power dressing on...resume in hand...I venture forth...with my 7 habits to guide me. And one thought in mind...a reason I made a move here...To sharpen the saw...even if it is a little rusty.

Oh...and one more thing.....if you think your indispensable...read on...

."Some folks can look so busy doing ' that they seem indispensable"
Kin Hubbard quotes

"An indispensable thing never has much value"
Russian Proverb quotes

A man doesn't begin to attain wisdom until he recognizes that he is no longer indispensable"
Richard Byrd

and my favorite...

"The cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men."
Charles de Gaulle

Indeed the cemeteries are full of indispensable men.

"I have never seen a gravestone carved with the message...Here lies John Doe a beloved worker"

~ Diana M. Miller

I need to remember that one before embarking on another job. Oh and one more thing...

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Ben Stein

It has taken me a little while to get there...but I believe that I always knew what I wanted...but had difficulty with the road map...

And remember...SHARPEN THE SAW...