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About
Published in 1989, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book written by Stephen Covey that has helped shape leaders all around the globe with 25 million copies sold and translated to 38 different languages. This book provides step-by-step actions we can take to achieve holistic effectiveness.

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Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

How do you want people to think of you at your funeral? If your family, friends, or people at your workplace were to speak, what character or attributions would they see in you? Just by thinking deeply on the person you want to be and the goals you want to achieve before you die, you have already practiced the second habit.

Whether short-term or long-term, by mentally picturing the end-goal, you give yourself a clear image of your destination. Your actions now should be in service of arriving at your desired destination.

Being productive simply means producing much with great speed. If you remember your physics, speed is scalar quantity that measures how fast an object moves, while velocity is a vector quantity that measures speed and tracks direction. When you begin in the end in mind, you produce much with great velocity. You may produce much, but in service of what? Before going fast, know your destination. Go fast with direction.

By design or by default?

In this discussion, there must be an understanding that all things are created twice:

1. Mental / first creation - in the mind
2. Physical / second creation - in the physical realm

For example, before a construction of a building begins, there must be a blueprint of the building first.

Every part of our lives has a first creation before it is reflected in the physical realm, but the first creation is not always by conscious design. Without Habit 1 (being proactive), we let our surroundings and circumstances dictate the second creation by default. Most people are stuck in the first creation of their goal; it remains their head - no execution, but with principled planning and disciplined management, you will reap second creation of our goals.

But for Habit 2, we will focus on the first creation, the principles of personal leadership. As hinted earlier management is the second creation, which will be the focus of Habit 3. Leadership comes before management!

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

Peter Drucker

Management is how fast we get to our destination. Leadership determines our destination.

Personal Mission Statement

Creating your own personal mission statement is perhaps the most effective way to begin with the end in mind. It takes time to create one. It may need some revisions over time. I have volunteered in programs where it takes at least a whole meeting to create a mission / vision statement.

Reflect. Recognize your values and principles. Picture what you want to achieve in life. Keep it simple to make it easier to remember so that it challenges you daily. Here are examples of mission statements as shared by Rolfe Kerr:

Succeed at home first.

Seek and merit divine help.

Never compromise with honesty.

Remember the people involved.

Hear both sides before judging.

Obtain counsel of others.

Defend those who are absent.

Be sincere yet decisive.

Develop one new proficiency a year.

Plan tomorrow's work today.

Hustle while you wait.

Maintain a positive attitude.

Keep a sense of humor.

Be orderly in person and in work.

Do not fear mistakes, fear only the absence of creative, constructive, and corrective responses to those mistakes.

Facilitate the success of subordinates.

Listen twice as much as you speak.

Concentrate all abilities and efforts on the task at hand, not worrying about the next job or promotion.

At the Center

To aid you in writing your personal mission statement, one must begin at the center of influence. Take a close look at your life - what is at the center of your life? It will be the source of your security, guidance, wisdom, and power.

1. Security: identity / sef-esteem
2. Guidance: source of direction / criteria for decision-making
3. Wisdom: perspective / judgment
4. Power: strength to achieve something / vital energy

Roles and Goals

Another way in which can aid in writing a personal mission statement is identifying your roles. We all have responsibilities in each aspect of our lives. As a father, what do you want to achieve? As a friend, what do you want to achieve? As church member? As a neighbor? As a blogger? Go back to the funeral exercise if you must. Remember that you may have multiple personal mission statements, or you may have one that reflects your goals in each aspect of your life.

You get to live one life - plan carefully.

If you already have your personal missions statement, please share it with us by replying to this post :)

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Thank you!

Next chapter, we will be looking at the third habit: Put first things first. I have already made chapter summaries of Chapter 1: Inside-Out, Chapter 2: The Seven Habits - An Overview, and Habit 1: Be proactive so be sure to check them out!

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