Running head: Two of The Seven Habits of Highly Efficient People
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Two of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
James A. Perales II
Tarleton State University
Dr. Shaw
10/14/2018
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Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
What does it really mean to begin with the end in mind? Well for starters, if you’re going
on a camping trip, do you look up a map first to see where to go or do you just go blindly into the
wilderness? I am sure we would all look up a map to see where we are going to end up. To begin
with the end in mind you must start with a clear understanding of your destination (Covey, pg.
98). We all have obstacles and bumps in the road as we go through everyday life, but it is
important that we maintain focus on our ultimate goal. It’s very easy to get side tracked and
confused on what we are trying to accomplish, some things may seem like a victory but, it really
can be ineffective. The most effective way to maintain that focus is to develop a mission
statement. The focus pertaining to the mission statement should be what you want to be, as in
your character. Then, what you want to do. which makes this unique because we all sometimes
are chasing something totally different. When you start to begin with the end in mind you will
begin to gain a whole new perspective and outlook on your daily life (Covey, pg. 99).
Later in the chapter Covey discussed how all things are created twice. There’s a
mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation (Covey, pg. 99). The first creation is
what you will imagine before you create it, like the blueprint of a house. The second is the actual
physical house that’s built, but before you start on the house, it’s essential that you create every
detail before hammering in the first nail. The book mentioned the Carpenters rule that stated to
“measure twice, cut once” (Covey, pg. 99). Measure twice, cut once basically means before you
do something, make sure to its exactly what you want and why you want it because if you don’t
it could come back around and cost you money, your family or maybe even your life.
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In the beginning of the book, Covey told us to imagine ourselves at your own funeral.
What would your friends, coworkers, or classmates say about you if they were called to speak
about you? In my past, I was the elementary school bully. I am positive if they were there at my
own funeral they would not say very nice things about me and I would completely understand. I
left a bad legacy behind but the realized that I can make a new one. A legacy where I don’t take,
I give, so I don’t always benefit off others, they can benefit off me. To begin with the end in
mind is to start with the end, so you can begin. My ultimate goal at the end of my life is to return
to heaven but to do that I have to see how to get to the end first and that starts with the bible. If I
don’t I could be led astray and deceived which would put me at the opposite of the end.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Sharpen the saw is the habit that makes all the others possible (Covey, pg. 287). As I said
before in order to get to my end goal, I have to use the bible for guidance and also to sharpen my
own saw. To sharpen your saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have,
which is yourself (Covey, pg. 288). If you want a tool to last long you have to take care of it. If I
sharpen my own saw, which means taking care of myself, I can help other sharpen theirs. The
book explained a chart with four dimensions that are placed in quadrants, the first is the physical
dimension and that is exercise, eating healthy, sleep/rest, and relaxation. The first is my strongest
so I should focus on the other three more. The second quadrant is the mental dimension which
pertains to reading, educating, writing, and learning new skills, it is said that if we focus on this
more that we can gain a better understanding of the other three quadrants (Covey, pg. 289). The
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third dimension is emotional/social, that is building relationships, give services, laugh and love.
The third dimension would be my weakest quadrant because I really need to start giving rather
than taking and improving in my social life, its hard now-a-days that everyone is glued to their
phone all day. The last and final dimension is spiritual, which is probably my new favorite
