The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
I've been listening to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People on audio CD while I work, and on the days I commute to the office. Sure, a lot of the information is common sense, but how often do we see that common sense is not always common practice.
I really enjoyed his commentary on principles. Here's what he had to say, in a nutshell:
Principles are natural laws. They are not based on social values, however popular those social values may be.
In a sense, we are not in control. The popular social language is to "take control of your life", that "you are the master of your own destiny" when in fact we are NOT in control. Principles are in control. Now, if we accept that, and follow these principles, then in that sense we are in control. But that is in a "humility" sense, because it respects that principles ultimately govern, not social values. *We* control our actions, but the consequences that flow from those actions are controlled by principles. Principles live on forever. Situations change and a practice no longer applies, but the principle always applies. They are universal, changeless. Societal values don't govern. Principles govern.
Here's an example. In school, did you ever cram for a test? Sure, you can cram, and pass the test, but you probably didn't learn much. Now imagine trying to cram as a farmer....Not working really hard at the end of the summer to bring the crop in, but slacking off all summer, and then trying to complete the entire farming process at the end (the planting and sowing, and then reaping the crop). It can't be done. And that's because farming is governed by natural laws that can't be controlled. Make sense?
That's my deep thought for the day.