Effectiveness Defined

The Seven Habits are habits of effectiveness. Because they are based on principles, they bring the

maximum long-term beneficial results possible. They become the basis of a person's character,

creating an empowering center of correct maps from which an individual can effectively solve problems,

maximize opportunities, and continually learn and integrate other principles in an upward spiral of

growth.

They are also habits of effectiveness because they are based on a paradigm of effectiveness that is in

harmony with a natural law, a principle I call the "P/PC Balance," which many people break themselves against. This principle can be easily understood by remembering Aesop's fable of the Goose and the

Golden Egg TM.

This fable is the story of a poor farmer who one day discovers in the nest of his pet goose a glittering

golden egg. At first, he thinks it must be some kind of trick. But as he starts to throw the egg aside, he has second thoughts and takes it in to be appraised instead.

The egg is pure gold! The farmer can't believe his good fortune. He becomes even more

incredulous the following day when the experience is repeated. Day after day, he awakens to rush to

the nest and find another golden egg. He becomes fabulously wealthy; it all seems too good to be true.

But with his increasing wealth comes greed and impatience. Unable to wait day after day for the

golden eggs, the farmer decides he will kill the goose and get them all at once. But when he opens the goose, he finds it empty. There are no golden eggs -- and now there is no way to get any more. The

farmer has destroyed the goose that produced them.

But as the story shows, true effectiveness is a function of two things: what is produced (the golden

eggs) and the producing asset or capacity to produce (the goose).

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE Brought to you by FlyHeart If you adopt a pattern of life that focuses on golden eggs and neglects the goose, you will soon be

without the asset that produces golden eggs. On the other hand, if you only take care of the goose

with no aim toward the golden eggs, you soon won't have the wherewithal to feed yourself or the

goose.

Effectiveness lies in the balance -- what I call the P/PC Balance TM. P stands for production of

desired results, the golden eggs. PC stands for production capability, the ability or asset that produces the golden eggs.

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 944