The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People Essay Example for Free

The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People Essay Some people call The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey, one of the most important self-help books written in the past twenty years. Others say it is one of the best business books written recent history. Regardless of whether it is called a self-help book or a business book, it has been a wildly popular and profitable publication. Seven Habits has sold over fifteen million copies and has been on various bestseller lists almost continuously since its publication in 1989. Indeed, Coveys blockbuster book spent five consecutive years, 1991-1995, as Americas top nonfiction bestseller. Covey has deeply held religious beliefs. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons, which is reflected in his writings. There is a strong Judeo-Christian work ethic espoused and the concept of an individual taking personal responsibility for his or her own personal development, and the seven habits he refers to in this book bear a strong connection to the Mormon Churchs thirteen fundamental beliefs. Covey believes these seven habits of highly effective people can be learned and, conversely, old habits that promote ineffectiveness can be unlearned. A major issue in learning and adopting the seven habits of highly effective people, Covey opines in Seven Habits, is one of paradigm shifting. A paradigm is defined as a basic mental framework that strongly influences a persons ideas, beliefs and, therefore, actions. A person has paradigms about everything in life: what makes a good marriage, what is a good college, what is acceptable social behavior, and on infinitum. Until a person can shift from one way of looking at a problem, or situation, to another, he or she will be locked into old paradigms that can restrict new understandings and growth. Moving the United States Coast Guard from the Department of Transportation to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security will require certain federal authorities to perform a paradigm shift from how they previously viewed the role and function of the USCG to a new way of thinking. Habitual ways of looking at paradigms create inflexibility in attempts at problem solving, management, an d leadership. Covey divides his seven habits of highly effective people into three interrelated categories; the first are habits of character, the second are habits of outward expression that lead to interdependence with others, and the last habit focusing on sustaining the growth process. This division becomes clear when he lists his habits. Habits of Independence: * Habit #1. Be proactive. Covey writes it is up to the individual to seize the initiative to use his or her resources to work toward goals. He speaks of a circle of influence and a circle of concern and postulates that worrying about things beyond your circle of influence is not productive, but working within your circle of influence is the best way to maximize your effectiveness. * Habit #2. Begin With The End In Mind. Covey illustrates this habit with a rather chilling question: What do you want people to say about you at your funeral? He then adds that you can aid your progress toward achieving your goals if you practice visualization, so when you finally attempt a task, you will have already done it countless times in your imagination. This is a method coaches have taught free throw shooters to practice for decades; visualize your stance, your pre-shot rituals and finally visualize the ball going cleanly through the net. Covey writes, We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective when we begin with the end in mind. * Habit #3. Put First Things First. This is a time management habit and Covey summarizes what he means by writing, Organize and execute around priorities. He develops a matrix where he divides all activities in four categories: In Quadrant I are things that are important and urgent. In Quadrant II are things that are important, but not urgent. In Quadrant III are items that are urgent, but not important. And finally, In Quadrant IV are things that at not important and not urgent. Habit #3, including Coveys matrix about time management, is the Golden Nugget of this book. Covey states that successful people keep most of their activities in Quadrant II because they can plan and prepare for future activities. Those people who constantly find their activities in Quadrant I will eventually burn out with excessive stress and strain because they are in a continuous crisis mode. Those individuals who find most of their activities in Quadrants III and IV are often out of control and dependant on others or institutions to help them live their lives. Covey believes that the term time management is actually a misnomer; that is, the challenge is not how to manage time, but rather how to manage ourselves. One of the central themes of the book is finding the correct P/PC balance. If we cannot manage ourselves, and our time, we will never be able to maintain proper Production. The P refers to production and the PC refers to production capability. He illustrates this P/PC dichotomy by using a machine as an illustration. If you ruin a machine twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year you will get great production initially, but eventually that machine will break down and be ruined or need repair. If, however, you run the machine on a regularly scheduled maintenance basis, you may not achieve the same production numbers as a machine being continuously used, but it will not suffer major breakdowns and over the long run the production will be greater. Habits of Interdependence. * Habit #4. Think Win-Win. This is a habit that encourages you to seek solutions of mutual benefit to all parties concerned, as opposed to win-lose situations where one person wins and the other person loses. Covey illustrates this habit by asserting that a powerful programming agent early in life is athletic competition where students develop a basic paradigm that life is a zero sum game; that is, if someone wins, someone must lose. To be truly successful, Covey writes, a person needs to know how to leverage the strengths of others and that is done not by creating win/lose situations, but rather seeking to create win/win situations. Indeed, he feels no deal is better than a non-win-win deal. * Habit #5. Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood. This is a communication habit that focuses on empathic listening skills. He asks how can you create win/win situations if you do not listen to the other person? Physicians diagnose before they prescribe. Top salespeople discover the clients needs before they offer a solution. Likewise, individuals need to exercise empathy; they must seek to first understand the other persons point of view before offering their own solutions * Habit #6. Synergize. Covey defines synergy as meaning the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He believes we need to value the differences between people and how they view the world and realize their paradigms might not be our paradigms, but they are equally valid for them. Once a person accepts the validity of seeking win-win solution, the habit of synergize or seeking cooperative teamwork becomes apparent. Synergy results from valuing differences and by bringing those differences together in the spirit of mutual respect. * Habit #7. Sharpen The Saw. In self-renewal, Covey cites four areas of our life that require constant attention: physical, mental, emotional-social and spiritual. He wrote that people get too busy producing or sawing and rarely take the time to stop and sharpen their saw or those four aspects of their lives. If they would take the time to stop and sharpen, the time they lost sharpening would be more than compensated by increased production. The example cited to illustrate this point is one of machinery. If a machine runs full throttle 24 hours a day for seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year, without time being set aside for maintenance, it will soon break under the stress and strain. If however, that same machine has a regular maintenance schedule, it could work indefinitely. Covey distinguishes something he calls the Character Ethic from the Personality Ethic. He believes Americans have moved away from embracing character ethics, or broad enduring permanent values such as honesty, loyalty and even the Ten Commandments, and turned towards Personality Ethics, where the emphasis is now on such items as how to dress for success, one-minute solutions and quick fixes. He feels the newer emphasis on personality focuses attention on short-term solutions whereas the attribute associated with the Character Ethic promotes healthier moral long-term solutions. This was my favorite part of the book because America truly has moved away from a Kantian moral absolutism thought process and has fostered more of a moral relativism approach. Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People is a book that cannot be read one time and be fully understood. Each habit contains so much information and wisdom that it is virtually impossible to internalize what Covey is saying without reading and rereading each section. It is impossible to cite one item as the most important as related to leadership because they are inter-related. The one concept explained in this book that had the greatest impact on my life, to date, was Coveys discussion of time management. In high school, when my father first introduced me to this book, I was rather disorganized and somewhat chaotic in ordering my priorities. Although I had never read it, my father explained parts of the book well enough so that I could benefit from some of its knowledge. I distinctly remember filling out the time matrix chart introduced in Habit 3 and discovering most of my activities fell into Quadrant I. It was obvious I was not planning my activities, but rather reacting to events as they occurred to me. Subsequently, I have tried to keep my activities in Quadrant II, with varying degrees of success. As I move from the Academy into the non-academic world I believe Coveys admonition in Habit 5 to seek first to understand and then be understood will gain greater importance in my life. Realizing that my paradigms may not be someone elses paradigms, or my paradigms might have been right at one time, but the passage of time requires me to re-examine the conclusions I have reached, will be a prime requisite to effective leadership. I believe that Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders will be one of those books that will stay on my bookshelf for years to come and I will revisit it countless times to reread selected passages, not just to reinforce what I remember Covey saying, but to apply his timeless wisdom to new situations I encounter in whatever career I choose.

Illusion in Death Of A Salesman :: essays research papers

What does Williams say about illusions and how are they important/dangerous to us? Tennessee Williams’ protagonist, Blanche Dubois, is a woman struggling to escape the faults of her past and secure a new life for herself. Her many mistakes have turned her life upside down and created a host of problems for her to deal with. To help her deal with the extreme direness of her existence, Blanche often creates fantasies and delusions to make her life seem more stable than it actually is. Although Blanche’s ultimate mental deterioration is partially due to her adherence to her delusions, it seems it is also these fantasies that help Blanche cope with her desperate situations. It is in this way that Williams presents illusions as something that can be important in our lives. Sometimes experiences in life are too traumatic or emotionally consuming to deal with outright. By tricking ourselves into thinking that the situation is better or different, we find ourselves more ready to live with whatever problem that effects us. However, as is the case with Blanche, illusions can potentially be destructive to our psyches as well. Hiding behind delusions to avoid our problems can make them all the more cataclysmal when we are forced to return to reality and face them. Throughout A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche subdues the demons of her past by deceiving herself and those around her into thinking that they don’t exist. This method of coping with her problems makes them even more disastrous when she is finally forced to face them. As an added blow to Blanche’s mental stability, her spirit is destroyed by her savage rape at the hands of her brother-in-law,

Computer and Enrollment

Chapter I: Background of the Study Introduction The technology todays plays a vital role in our society. It makes man work easier and fast. The discovery of computer was the great function of modernity for different to make work easier, more capable and more adaptable for the humanity. This desire to simplify lives and perform more effectively creates a new technology for improving lives within our society. Because need exist, man developed and applied technology to fill those needs. Technology is one of the tools to solved man’s craving for their needs.It made the man more efficient for students and provide path to communicate to entire earth. Many manual transactions can be computerized by using software application or computer system to make work easier and efficient. Information technology can give a company ready access to improve product and service quality, reduce costs, increase productivity in smallest time possible, and communication between employees and to make thi ngs with lesser effort but having better output and even improve quality. Computerization is a control system that manages processes in industrial workplace.It reduced human errors and processing time, thus it can boost productivity and resulted into high quality of product produce. In Information System, computerization is concerned about interrelating different but interdependent transactions. This can result in a system with well-integrated processes that can perform much faster and more accurate than a manual system. Enrollment is the process of entering and verifying data of student to register on a particular school. Different interrelated processes build up enrollment procedures called Enrollment System.Enrollment System is used particularly in recording and retrieving students’ information. Tracking students’ information is also one feature of Enrollment System, in which the school can trace the standing of a student. Verifying payments was also added to update or browse students’ billings. Enrollment System is a good example of a computer generated process. This can lessen the workload and provides accurate information needed of the school. As a result, it  will benefit not only the student but the administration as a whole.The system design project, Enrollment System that will provide the needed and storing information in a faster,    more convenient way by storing file of the student enrollees in a computer system that will lessen the effort of faculty staff in storing files of each student every now and then. This will also serve as information especially for the irregular students, freshmen, transferee, and professor in able to get access in course, subject, professor, and student enrollees. This information here can be viewed in just a second without worrying that a single file is lost.The idea behind a enrollment system is not a new concept. As student enrollees increase every year, enrollment procedure become harder to deal. This will only serve to increase the problem facing enrollment that provides more easy way in enrolling. A computer based system is a system in which the computer plays a major role and this kind of system is needed by every companies and institutions nowadays. This is the best way of storing and retrieving data on a server or hard disk rather than using papers and file cabinets.This will also be a big help to all the enrollment staff especially under the computer department because they are the one who are entitled to touch and read the information from here. It will help our institution to have another system that will upgrade the enrollment processes so as to meet the quality that our institutions are trying to meet. This study is to know if Computerization is very much in need in Enrollment System of Montessori Professional College. We conducted reserches and survey to get information from the student to know what does computerization can give to improve this institution. Significance of the StudyThis study aimed impart to the mind of the readers the importance of the technolgy in an institution. The advantages and disadvantages ofusing this extra-ordinary creation of man. How the students and employee will respond if this computerization will be implemented. The reason why the researchers conduct this study is because of the reason that many of students having difficulty in enrolling because of Manual Operation Enrollment in Montessori Professional College. This study will may be a references from the administration to implent or not the Computerization Enrollment System. To avoid some conflict to the students nd administration the survey we prepared have no means of any identifacation, and the actual Survey Report will be kept secretly by the reserachers. After this study, we will determined how the students will respond to the Computerization, the current experiences encountered by the students in Montessori Professional College while enrolling, t he comment of the employee regarding this proposal. The actual percentage of the agree and disagree students to the survey conducted. This study also serves as a references in Administration of Montessori Professional College to change the current Enrollment System.. . Defnition of TermsComputer-is a general purpose device that can be  programmed  to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem. Manual Operation- Any processing operation performed by hand. Computerized- To furnish with a computer or computer system. To enter, process, or store (information) in a computer or system of computers. Institution- is any  structure  or  mechanism  of  social order  and  cooperation  governing the  behaviorof a set of  individuals  within a given community — may it be human or a specific animal one.Institutions are identified with a  s ocial purpose, transcending individuals and intentions by mediating the rules that govern cooperative living behavior. Enrollment- The act or process of enrolling, The act or process of enrolling, A record or an entry. System- is a  set  of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole or a set of  elements   and  relationshipswhich are different from relationships of the set or its elements to other elements or sets. Boredom-is an  emotional  state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, and not interested in their surroundings.Administration- The act or process of administering, especially the management of a government or large institution. The activity of a government or state in the exercise of its powers and duties. Students- is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend  university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a  pupil  in English . In its widest use,  student  is used for anyone who is  learning.Employee- A  person  who is hired to provide  services  to a  company  on a  regular  basis in  exchange  for compensation and who does not provide these services as part of an independent  business. Survey- A  detailed  study  of a  market  or geographical area to gather  data  on  attitudes,  impressions,  opinions,  satisfaction  level, etc. , by polling a  section  of the  population. Research- is formal work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications CHAPTER II: Project Description Statement of the Problem 1.How does Manual Operation in Enrollment affect the Institution’s image to the students? 2. What was the advantages and disadvantages of using Manual Operation i n Enrollment? 3. In Montessori Professional College, does Manual Operation in Enrollment was still effective? 4. What was the advatages and disadvantages of Computerization of Enrollment System? 5. How will Computerized Enrollment System affect Montessori College System? 6. Would the student agree if the administration apply this new system in Montessori Professional College? 7. If Computerized Enrollment System will be implemented, how will the employee respond to the new system?Proposed Research Project Scope and Dilimitation Out of all the students in Montessori Professional College, 50 students were randomly selected to be used as a sample in conducting survey about the curent Enrollment System. This study limits only to those who were studying in MPC. Its main purpose is to determined the comment of the students with regard to the existing system. The advantages and disanvantages of Manual and Computerized Enrollment System. This study considers every aspect of students persona l information that has an impact on their academic performances as their educational background, allowance, gender and age.Each of the respondents are given same questionnaire to answer. And this study focuses on the current student of the present academic year 2012 – 2013. General Objectives This study was aiming to impart to the mind of the reader the importance of innovation in an Institution. Specific Objectives This study aims to create an idea for the current Adminstration of Montessori Professional College to change the old system of the enrollment as a demand of students to lessen the work but with greater payoff. Scope and Limitation Cases Study on Computerized Enrollment System A computerized enrollment system is a multi-function processing operation.Computerization of enrollment information interrelates different yet interdependent transactions in a systematized and functional way. The use of computerized enrollment systems by organizations to help coordinate peopl e and information is increasing throughout the world. Many experts cite numerous reasons why computerized   enrollment systems are viable choices for schools, training programs and workplace operations. Educational institutions, such as colleges and grade schools, are assessed for a case  study. Computerized enrollment systems for educational services and training programs reduce processing time and human errors.Online automated systems, which accept and organize enrollee information, can boost productivity. Systems operations proceed faster, more efficiently and with greater accuracy than manual enrollment systems. Programs are comprehensive and capable of handling all interrelated processes, including: completion of all related forms; development, organization and maintenance of files; creation of master lists and other special reports; fee assessments and balances; departmentalized accounts receivable reports; class schedules; and record  updates.Computer generated enrollme nt solutions afford students choices like options for payment 24/7 that can benefit the whole operation. Systems typically include data protection and backup frameworks. Student enrollees have access to their personal information only. School personnel are able to keep up with teacher and student photos, grade point averages and other pertinent identification data, such as grades, quizzes and any other modules that are considered necessary for efficient administration.Modifications in school policies and requirements are easily edited online. Career guidance and evaluations are facilitated and traceable. What the online enrollment program effectively amounts to is a self-service, on-demand student and administrator friendly guide and process optimizer. Employee workload is decreased and administrators can spend more time giving students more personalized attention and encouragement. Also, the enrollment system is compatible with mobile app versions for students and school staff. In Philippine Setting

The Veil and Persepolis Essay - 859 Words

In Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the main character, Marjane, lives in Iran and is required, by fear of punishment, to wear a veil that only leaves her face uncovered. Having to wear a veil is portrayed as an insult to women’s rights. However in the article â€Å"Why We Wear the Haijab,† by Sumayyah Hussein, Sumayya Syed says the veil â€Å"‘liberates you from the media’† (p118) It is also seen as a form of protection from judgment and western influences. The women interviewed in the article tell of the benefits of wearing the veil and see it as an honor instead of an insult, like in Persepolis. The veil is part of Iran’s culture. To de-emphasize a women’s body and to gain respect as a person, the veil is worn to protect from the judgments forced†¦show more content†¦When required to wear the veil Marjane was exceeding in school, had a close relationship to god, and was actively concerned about the political standings in Iran. She had a lot of friends at school, where she wore the veil, and was happy and well adapted. The veil protected Marjane from being negatively influenced and distracted. At fourteen Marjane is sent to Austria to study, where she loses herself and strays away from her culture. She is exposed to things that, in her culture, are forbidden and looked down upon. When not wearing the veil she almost instantly gives into peer pressure. She fits in and has friends, but learns quickly that they won’t be there for her in her time of need. In â€Å"Why We Wear the Hijab† Hana Tariq points out that â€Å"‘people who are friend with you because of the way you look aren’t real friends.’†(p118) wearing the veil helps create a uniform removing any judgment made based on material objects or appearance. She rejects the veil and all the morals that go along with it. In Iran the veil helped protect Marjane from distractions in the media, the same distractions that exist in Austria. The longer the media influenced her, the harder it was for her to gain respect from peers and adults alike. When Marjane hits rock bottom in she moves back to Iran and lives with her parents. She struggles with her identity because she is still a victim of western influence, butShow MoreRelatedPersepolis: perceptions of the veil1546 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Persepolis; Perceptions of the veil [Satrapi, (b) p52] â€Å"And say to the believing woman that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty...† SÃ… «rah 24:31 The autobiographical novel â€Å"Persepolis† depicts the early stages of its author, Marjane Satrapi’s life. It shows her growing up in Iran, to her studies in Vienna, and her return. 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In secularizedRead MoreAnalysis Of Persepolis And The Sub Themes1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe personal nature of the story from the perspective of Marjane is one of the overarching themes within the book Persepolis, and the sub themes that will be displayed are revolution, imperialism, nationalism, religion, and social class. These themes can be related back to the main theme because of how they share traits between the book and the image themselves. The image shows Tehran, Iran after the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was very controversial (AFP/GETTY, Online). Many people thoughtRead MoreThe Molding Hand of Oppression: Forming an Identity in Persepolis1348 Words   |  6 PagesMolding Hand of Oppression: Forming an Identity in Persepolis Every person is unique. However, there are many similar parts that go into creating every person’s identity. Of course, there is the biology, the genetics. Then there are outside forces, the nurturing of a person. When trying to form an identity, there are numerous outside factors that contribute, such as gender, culture, and environment. For Marji, the protagonist of the Persepolis series, being an Iranian woman is absolutely a factorRead MoreEssay about Handmaids Tale vs Persepolis971 Words   |  4 PagesDavid Miller Oppression on Women in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Marjane Satrapi, in Persepolis writes about a memoir of a little girl growing in Iran. She refers to a secular pre-revolutionary time through contrast, the oppressive characteristics of the fundamentalist government upon women in specifics. In comparison, her work is very similar to Margaret Atwood’s, A Handmaid’s Tale, in which the central character, Offred, reflects upon her former life’sRead MorePersepolis, By Marjane Satrapi, And Things Fall Apart1333 Words   |  6 Pagessometimes lead to misconceptions and stereotypes. Two novels, Persepolis, By Marjane Satrapi, and Things Fall Apart, By Chinua Achebe, take their works and shatter the stereotypical views of their cultures (Native Africans and Iranians) made by the western world. They show you that what you always hear about one culture or individual may not always be accurate, and the only way to learn about one’s culture is to learn the facts. Persepolis is a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi. The novel is