Make a Choice - Realize Your True Potential

The book “The 8th Habit” is dedicated to striking at the root of the significant problems we face today. The book starts with the pain, exploring the underlying problem that has personal roots and involves a deeply imbedded paradigm and set of traditions at the workplace. It then goes on explaining the solution for this problem.

Stephen Covey has worked with organizations around the world for over forty years and has been studying the findings of the great minds who had themselves studied the organizations. Most of the cultural shifts, building great organizations that sustain long-term growth, prosperity and contribution to the world had begun with one person’s choice. Sometimes that one person was a CEO or President. Often it started with someone else like a line manager, a professional or someone’s assistant. These people regardless of their position first changed themselves thoroughly and inspired others to change too. Their character, competence, initiative and positive energy lifted others. They discovered their strengths and talents and used them to produce results. They were noticed and given additional responsibilities. They could do well in this case also. Top people wanted to learn from their ideas and the people were drawn to them and to their vision. Such people just don’t get sucked into or pulled down by the negative, demoralizing and insulting forces in the organizations. Their organizations are no better than most others. They are all a mess, to some degree. These people realize that they can’t wait for their boss or the organization to change. They become an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity and their energy is contagious.

Here one might ask - where does a person get such internal strength to swim against the current and to withstand negative cultural provocations, subordinate selfish interests and develop such vision and determination? The answer is that they realize their true nature and gifts and use it to develop a vision of great things they want to accomplish. With wisdom they take initiative and cultivate great understanding of the needs and opportunities around them. They meet those needs that match their unique talents and tap their higher motivations and that make the difference. In short they find and use their voice. They apply the principles that draw the best from the “whole person” - body, mind, heart and spirit. They also choose to influence and inspire others find their voice through these principles as well.

Thus the key to greatness is self realization. Once you find your own talent and put it to good use you can achieve greater things in life and will be recognized for it.

All the best,

John Meredith

The Learning Center - A UK partner of FranklinCovey

Tags: Add new tag, choose, determination, potential, realize