The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Habit 1: Be Proactive
"Habit 1 is the key to unlocking all the other six habits and that's why it comes first. It says, 'I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I'm responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver seat of my destiny, not just a passenger.' "
In order to be proactive, you must first develop foresight. Proactive people foresee potential obstacles and exert their power to find ways to overcome them before those obstacles turn into concrete roadblocks. They plan for the future. Proactive people are not idle observers, they are active participants. Being proactive means taking timely, effective action.

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
"Control your own destiny or someone else will." (Jack Welch)
To have the end in mind means to know what you're moving towards. If you have a goal, but no realistic plan for achieving it, then it is just a dream. 


Habit 3: Put first things first
"Organize and execute around priorities."  
The most important things in life should be people's number one priorities. If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse. In order to say yes to your priorities, you have to be willing to say no to other things. Life can be hard sometimes, but to make it simpler, is to set your priorities straight. 



Habit 4: Think Win-Win
"Think win-win or no deal."
 The best situations are those in which both or all participants win. This may be in business, life, and/or just in simple daily actions.






  Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
"Diagnose before you prescribe." You cannot be understood, if you do not understand. Understanding is deeper than knowledge, there are many people that know you but only very few who understand you. Sometimes, you just can't tell anyone how you really feel not because you don't know why, not because you don't know your purpose, not because you don't trust them, but because you can't find the right words to make them understand.

Habit 6: Synergize

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts (1+1=3)"
Sometimes people get bored of doing all the little things in life, but the truth is, those little things could amount to greater things. Even sometimes greater than you can imagine. If a leaf, for example, did not feel like he mattered to the tree, then what's to say that all the leaves where to think that about themselves? If that happens then there would be no leaves on the tree. Every little piece of something adds up to something that is or can be larger than life.
 
 Habit 7:Sharpen the Saw
Four dimensions of Self-Renewal: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social/Emotional
To sharpen the saw is to renew oneself to be better. When a saw is dull, we need to sharpen it so it can work better and with more ease. If not, then the same problems will arise and you won't be able to get through them. 

Reflection:
These seven habits are very useful. They helped me be more optimistic in my life and have let me open my eyes to be a better person and meet more extraordinary people.