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I am a small business Conversation Consultant and public speaker that uses the power of the internet to leverage your success. Productivity in Context is a web magazine focused on Productivity and tools for organizing. Make this your headquarters for improving your life and work through increased mindfulness, education, and workflow practices.

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At long last the e-book is ready! I have compiled all of the posts and worksheets from one of my most popular series into one download.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People E-book

If you are looking to get more information on how to implement the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in a Getting Things Done-style system you are in the right place. Over the course of the next few pages you will encounter lessons in personal change that can transform your life.

Because this is not exactly a simple concept to implement, I have created a set of 7 lessons that will guide you through the stages of implementation over the next 7 weeks. This should give you a chance to focus on each new habit in your life for one full week before implementing the next one. Some of the lessons are supplemented by a follow-up worksheet that I have created to help you start implementing the new habit.

Many of you have been requesting this, and I am pleased to provide the totally free information here:
For those of you who may not have read Stephen Covey’s landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, here is a brief synopsis:

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

The chapters are dedicated to each of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives:

1.Be Proactive. Here, Covey emphasizes the original sense of the term “reactive” as coined by Victor Frankl. You can either be proactive or reactive when it comes to how you respond to certain things. When you are reactive, you blame other people and circumstances for obstacles or problems. To be proactive means to take responsibility for everything in life. Initiative and taking action will then follow.

2.Begin with the End In Mind. This chapter is about setting long-term goals based on “true north” principles. Covey recommends formulating a “personal vision statement” to document one’s perception of one’s own vision in life.

3.Put First Things First. Here, Covey describes a framework for prioritizing work that is aimed at short-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear not to be urgent, but are in fact very important. Delegation is presented as an important part of time management. Successful delegation, according to Covey, focuses on results and benchmarks that are to be agreed upon in advance, rather than prescribed as detailed work plans.

4.Think Win/Win describes an attitude whereby mutually beneficial solutions are sought that satisfy the needs of oneself, or, in the case of a conflict, both parties involved. One of the most valuable benefits of this strategy is that all parties are involved in the mutual agreement. In this type of scenario, all the parties will be committed to the plan of action.

5.Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. Covey warns that giving out advice before having empathetically understood a person and their situation will likely result in rejection of that advice. Thoroughly reading out your own autobiography will decrease the chance of establishing a working communication.

6.Synergize describes a way of working in teams. Apply effective problem solving and collaborative decision making. Appreciate value differences. Build on divergent strengths. Leverage creative collaboration. Embrace and leverage innovation.

7.Sharpen the Saw focuses on balanced self-satisfaction; regain what Covey calls “production capability” by engaging in carefully selected recreational activities.

In each lesson we will look into how to apply each of the Habits (or parts of them) in a meaningful ways, to synchronize with your own, personal productivity practice. I will ask you to take on three simple activities each week that will help you administer and adjust to your new habit.

Share your thoughts

I am very interested in how this e-book may be able to help you, especially in the new year as so many folks are working hard on their resolutions. Please leave a comment below.

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/7wgj24. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen