“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” (Stephen Covey)
I remember reading Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Effective People over ten years ago, in particular I remember how the principles and practical lessons taught there were very relevant and helpful for me.
Covey was a Mormon, and though we would differ on many things, at the root of his life management system are valid principles rooted in the bible, helpful for living life both faithfully and effectively.
Below are ten quotes that I recently read (Kevin Kruse, ”Stephen Covey: Ten Quotes that can Change Your Life) that reminded me of the book, and prompted me to return to it.
What do you think, do these make sense?
Do they match what we hear from Jesus?
1) The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.
2) The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
3) Live out of your imagination, not your history.
4) Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.
5) Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.
6) I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.
7) You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good.”
8) I teach people how to treat me by what I will allow.
9) Love is a verb. Love – the feeling – is the fruit of love the verb or our loving actions. So love her.
10) Live, love, laugh, leave a legacy.