Having talked about the private victories held within the first 3 habits and the public victories that exist in habits 4, 5 and 6….

It’s time to bring them all together.

This is the habit that makes everything we have learnt to this point, possible.

By simply taking the time and initiative to read this post, you are already living the habit of “Sharpening the Saw”. Aren’t you?

Personally, I always remember the story that was first heard many years ago and relayed through Stephen Coveys words.

It spoke of a frustrated big hulking axeman who flatly refused to take a backward step when it came to chopping down trees during a marathon experiment.

The frustration was born from the fact that one of his competitors continually relaxed, took a break and spent time tinkering around making sure his blades were as sharp as could be.

The result if you haven’t figured it out is that the hulking axemen was left floundering in the wake of someone with possibly less physical ability but someone smart enough to sharpen his saw!

Habit 7 is all about renewing the greatest asset of all. You!

It’s about the continual development of the 4 key dimensions to your nature.

The Physical Dimension

Exercise and looking after our physical body is paramount to our successes.

It is a Quadrant 2 thing to do. (Habit 3 “Put First things First”).

It incorporates the need to eat healthy foods, relaxation, rest and sufficient exercise.

Be pro-active. Take the initiative instead of reacting to the forces that stop you… You will be glad you did.

The Spiritual Dimension

This is a very private part of one’s life and it will reflect your core along with your commitment levels towards your value system.

A spiritual renewal takes time but is definitely another Quadrant 2 activity.

The Mental Dimension

It amazes me to no end how many people believe that all study stops after the completion of the prison sentence some call school.

The TV, the Xbox, Playstations and chat rooms all become the new classroom.

If you are not reading and attempting to expand your mind through the books of some of the worlds most gifted people, you should.

The person that does not read is no better off than the person that can’t read.

The Social/Emotional Dimension

Whilst the first 3 dimensions are related to your principles of personal vision which relates to habits 1,2 and 3. This dimension is related to habits 4,5 and 6.

It is centred on the principles of empathic communication, leadership and creative co-operation.

Our lives are not as other people see it. Our happiness, our security and even our successes comes from within. It comes from living our lives with an integrity that reflects our true, deepest values.

This entire process, referred to by Covey as the self-renewal process is something that needs the balance of each of the 4 mentioned dimensions.

The private victory takes work. It takes at least one hour a day when renewing the spiritual, physical and mental dimensions but it is the key to integrating the 7 habits into your everyday life.

The public victory is no different. Sharpening the Saw will provide you with the fuel and knowledge you need.

It will grow your circle of influence along with developing all the other habits that will ultimately lead to your interdependent reality.

When you have read the book, share it with others. It is amazingly powerful and sometimes confronting but it is better that we alone stand in judgement of ourselves, not leaving the outcome in the hands of others.

If you’ve just started out online or you’ve been battling away for years, I invite you to grab my newsletter, pick the bones out of it and learn all you can because it can never be enough.

Learning and sharpening the saw is and always will be a part of my life. Technology has afforded us new ways to LEARN . If you are keen to check out some of the material, just click the link and check it out.

“No more excuses”
Online MLM Leadership Coach
Telephone: +61 5437-7289
www.workwithpetebennett.com
www.MLMstrokeoffortune.com

Often a book of this calibre can wear you down. It challenges you in emotional ways that are not common in today’s society.

There’s a good chance that not everyone will get this far through the book let alone complete it and implement the strategies required for effectiveness. Who knows?

All the previous habits have come together in such a way as to prepare us for chapter 6- Synergize.

The definition of Synergy is that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

When we look back at the “public victory” chapters we notice the step by step process towards effective human interaction.

We firstly agree and acknowledge a paradigm that is committed to mutual benefits. Step two is to actually listen and understand the person or people we are communicating with.

The final step held within this chapter is our ability to seek and find synergistic solutions which will stem from mutual trust, understanding and respect.

If you seriously want synergy to work, it’s about valuing differences. Regardless of perceived weaknesses it is the differences that provide the fuel for solutions.

We have all heard of the phrase one plus one equals three haven’t we? Welcome to synergy.

Two planks of wood held together will sustain considerable more weight than the combination of two single pieces and the chapter outlines many such examples.

Synergistic Communication

This is the opening of your mind and heart to new possibilities, options and alternatives.
It’s an exciting concept which I shared in the most part through sporting teams aligned for certain goals but it is equally as powerful in the business sector and in family life.

Synergy In The Classroom

There is certainly a need for a level of emotional maturity but in essence, synergy can be extremely powerful.
Put a mixture of creativity and imagination in a brainstorming environment and the results can be staggering.

Synergy in Business

Covey describes some very powerful moments when synergy really opened his eyes to possibilities.
This is where all egos are to be left at the door, trust, mutual respect and openness is welcomed with open arms in an endeavour to find powerful solutions.

Fishing For the Third Alternative

It doesn’t have to be my way; it doesn’t have to be your way. But there does have to be a way!
With trust, openness, a positive emotional bank account and a win/win attitude, a third alternative is absolutely possible.

Negative Synergy

This is opposite to the cooperative approach. Manipulation and a deep seated need to get what you want is a characteristic prevalent in today’s corporate world.
Businessmen who talk the talk when it comes to win/win but fail to walk the walk can often be left floundering amongst the accomplishments of good, sincere communicators.

Valuing the Differences

The key to accepting differences lies in the knowledge that all people see the world not as it is but as they are.
The reality is that two people can disagree but both are right. If you don’t believe me, refer to the diagrams on pages 25 and 26. It totally depends on your own personal paradigm.

Unless we value the differences and accept that both parties may be right, we will never be able to escape the limits of our prior conditioning.

To be able to take advantage of synergy, we need to understand and value the different opinions of others.

It doesn’t matter if you think they are right or wrong. What matters is that you listen, understand and think win/win on your way to finding a third alternative that benefits all parties.

If this article has been a win/win experience for you, why not share your thoughts with me.

Take a second. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if you have got any personal value out of the post.

Better still. Join my newsletter. Subscribe over on the right hand side and lets make every post a winner!

“No more excuses”
Online MLM Leadership Coach
Telephone: +61 5437-7289
www.MLMstrokeoffortune.com