Stephen Covey’s the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® – Habit #7

In this issue of our newsletter, we finish our series on Stephen Covey’s seven habits with Habit #7: Sharpen the Saw®.

At face value, this seems logical—after all, you can get more done with a sharp saw than a dull one. But that’s not what Covey is talking about. Rather, “Sharpen the Saw” involves making a commitment to improving ourselves.

SO HOW DO YOU SHARPEN YOUR SAW?    

Make time for personal and professional development to balance yourself mentally, socially, physically, and spiritually.

• LEARN: Read, listen to podcasts, sign up for webinars, etc.
• CONNECT: Even during these times of limited social contact, try to make meaningful connections with other people.
• FUEL YOURSELF PHYSICALLY: You can be a more productive person if you pay more attention to eating well, getting enough rest, and exercising.
• FEED YOUR SPIRIT: Several ways you might do this include praying, enjoying nature, listening to or making music, or by meditating.

HOW CAN THIS HELP YOU PROFESSIONALLY?

Self-improvement/self-development enables you to refocus on your “why.” It can help you step away from the busyness of business and let you think about whether what you’re doing aligns with your business’s goals and objectives.

While it may seem challenging to carve out time for self-improvement, consider the advantages for you personally and your business. Whether 15 minutes every other day, an hour every other week, or a chunk of time during your business’s slow season, find opportunities to “sharpen your saw”!