"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective people" book review and my comments...

Stephen Covey's bestseller “The seven habits of highly effective people” was definitely a special book and a top-seller one as wikipedia says about the book being sold “15 million copies in thirty-eight languages throughout the world”.

This just made me think I should talk about it a little…

Habit 1 - be proactive®
This is the ability to control one's environment, rather than have it control you, as is so often the case. Self determination, choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and circumstances

Comment 1 – Do something, make a change and don’t just sit there watching time passing by while you are getting old. Even if you get some action, you should control your reaction and not just leave things to be out of hands.

Habit 2 - begin with the end in mind®
Covey calls this the habit of personal leadership - leading oneself that is, towards what you consider your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities you will build a platform to avoid distractions and become more productive and successful.

Comment 2 – Have an aim and concentrate not to lose it. Beware of the distractions.

Habit 3 - put first things first®
Covey calls this the habit of personal management. This is about organizing and implementing activities in line with the aims established in habit 2. Covey says that habit 2 is the first, or mental creation; habit 3 is the second, or physical creation.

Comment 3 – Now you have the IDEA. Next step is to WORK on the ideas in sequence. Don’t forget the sequence.

Habit 4 - think win-win®
Covey calls this the habit of interpersonal leadership, necessary because achievements are largely dependent on co-operative efforts with others. He says that win-win is based on the assumption that there is plenty for everyone, and that success follows a co-operative approach more naturally than the confrontation of win-or-lose.

Comment 4 – If a person is always winning, that’s great. If I am always winning, that’s even greater. If we’re both thinking of the sake of each other so that we’re both winning, that will be the greatest. Don’t you think so?

Habit 5 - seek first to understand and then to be understood®
One of the great maxims of the modern age. This is Covey's habit of communication, and it's extremely powerful. Covey helps to explain this in his simple analogy 'diagnose before you prescribe'. Simple and effective, and essential for developing and maintaining positive relationships in all aspects of life.

Comment 5 – I heard a short story about this habit before. It was about a ship sailing in the sea at night and there was this lighthouse lighting at it. The ship sent wireless messages to the source of the light saying: “Hey you get out of my way. I’m not changing my direction”. The guy in the lighthouse responded sarcastically: “I’m not getting out of your way, so you will be the one changing your direction”. They repeated the above messages while each is persistent that the other must change its path. Eventually, as you would imagine, the ship smashed into the lighthouse. Did you get the idea of the story?

Habit 6 - synergize®
Covey says this is the habit of creative co-operation - the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which implicitly lays down the challenge to see the good and potential in the other person's contribution.

Comment 6 – I would always see this as the think win-win habit. We’re all working for the benefit of ourselves and so for the benefit of the whole group.

Habit 7 - sharpen the saw®
This is the habit of self renewal, says Covey, and it necessarily surrounds all the other habits, enabling and encouraging them to happen and grow. Covey interprets the self into four parts: the spiritual, mental, physical and the social/emotional, which all need feeding and developing.

Comment 7 – I see this as the maintenance module that would repeatedly refresh the other habits and make sure they’re working like they should.


Finally, I think I’ve shared the book review with you discussing my comments on each habbit…
Anyyyyyyy comment from you?

When I need you...

Celine Dion’s wonderful song that I just love listening to is “When I need you”. That’s a really old song I used to listen to while I was at school by year 1996 (can’t remember the exact date…just a rough figure)… I used to love it and I still do… if you listen to it… you would definitely find it soo true… try and tell me
This is its lyrics… read it and try downloading it using a torrent or something…

When I need you
Just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you
It's only a heart beat away

When I need love
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day

Miles and miles of empty space in between us
A telephone can't take the place of your smile
But you know I wont be traveling for ever
It's cold out, but hold out and do like I do

When I need you
Just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you babe
It's only a heartbeat away

It's not easy when the road is your driver
Honey, that's a heavy load that we bear
But you know I won't be traveling a lifetime
It's cold out but hold out and do like I do
Oh I need you

When I need you
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day

When I need you
Just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you
It's only a heart beat away

What's TICKYLUM ???

I’m always asked this question… “Why do you have the nick: Tickylum?”… So I thought I may answer this question here on ma blog so people will ask me afterwards and they will find me responding with a URL…he he he

So the name “Tickylum” comes primarily from a ad that I guess we all used to watch on TV for the products of UNO… it’s kinda word that’s being said between the verses of the song on the ad… and it just says “Tickylum Tickylum Ticky lum lum lum”… So since I used to sing that song a lot while I was camping with some friends from the YWCA (Young women Christian Association)… They had it for me as ma nick…and since then (year 1999 approx.) I had it as ma nick…

Usually people relate “Tickylum” with the sound I do with my mouth… They call it now “Ticking”… It could be… and I’m going on with it… BUT this wasn’t the true reason behind me being named: “Tickylum”…