7 Habits of Highly Effective People

iLEAD Schools embrace the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We’re sharing the 7 Habits in the Monday Message and, for those interested, offering suggestions on how to introduce them to your family.

Habit 2 is Begin with the End in Mind. Embracing this habit means that instead of living by default, we live by design with a clear definition of our desired results. How do we wish to be remembered? What will be our legacy?

Beginning with the end in mind requires a mindset that envisions the outcome before any actions. It creates a criteria for determining what is important in our lives and what wastes our precious time. Internalizing habit 2 means that we have to make a plan and remember that “things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least” (Johann Goethe).

Dr. Covey suggests envisioning and creating a personal mission statement. This serves to clarify what is important to you. It provides focus and helps you design your own life instead of having your life defined for you.

In our homes, we can simplify this by telling our learners that, for the important things we do, we need to make a plan. The plans are usually simple and always developmentally appropriate. Older learners may create multiple steps in order to achieve a goal, whereas younger learners might have a short list of actions that will culminate in an individual project.

Suggested Activity : Try setting a simple goal with your children this week. Write down the steps to achieve the goal with your child. When the goal is achieved, discuss the process of beginning with the end in mind.