Seven Habits

This involves some "weeding" as librarians like to say, as I need to make room on my shelves. Some books I can get rid of because they were never that good in the first place and never deserved a place anyway. Some I get rid of because their time has come and gone. A book needs to be either a valuable reference, something I will definitely read again, or just too special to get rid of.

I ran across "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey. Copyright 1989. The pages are turning brown. I read it many years ago. It was worthwhile, but not great. After a bit of thought, I decided I would never read it again. But I thought it would be interesting to list the seven habits and contemplate them before getting rid of the book.

• Be proactive (not reactive)
• Begin with the end in mind (clear goals)
• Put first things first (right priorities)
• Think win/win
• Seek first to understand, then to be understood
• Synergize
• Sharpen the Saw

This is clearly what you would call a "self help" book. I will use it to launch my own thoughts here. Make pursuing excellence your aim and goal. Excellence is not "perfection" (perfection is largely a very toxic delusion). Excellence is always looking for ways to improve and become a better person. Excellence is embracing change. Excellence is listening to criticism and finding ways to put a positive spin on it and use it to motivate change. It is a mindset. Thinking you are "good enough" is the mortal enemy of excellence.