Blog Number 7

This week we studied a summary of the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” There is a reason this is probably one of the most recognizable books of our time. One of the principles that stuck out to me the most was habit number 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. I am absolutely one of those people that is always trying to fix problems. Sometimes I think it comes in handy, but there are other times where I feel like my advice is probably uninvited. The book explains that before you jump in and try to give advice, you need to make sure that you truly understand what the other person is saying. Something else it says it that most people listen to respond, not to understand. I think this is one area that I can improve upon. There are times where I listen to understand, but only if I am consciously trying. If I am not trying, then I listen to respond. When I do that it automatically decreases my credibility with the other person. An example in the book that really helped me was of a doctor. A doctor needs to diagnose before prescribing. It would be silly to walk into a doctors office just for them to automatically prescribe you medicine without understanding the problem.

Another habit that stuck out to me was habit number 3: Put First Things First. Time management is something that I struggle with. This semester is the first semester in a long time where I feel like I am actually managing my time well. My grades show it, and I couldn’t be happier. Without me even realizing it, I am doing exactly what the book says. I am focusing on quadrant number 2. My homework is super important, but this semester I have been finishing it before it reaches quadrant number 1. The next thing I need to work on is making this habit of mine portable. This is another thing the book talks about. My time management skills need to apply to all aspects of my life, not just at work, or school in this case.

Overall this week’s study has really helped me realize which goals I need to focus on. And at some point, I would like to buy the complete book and study it.