HABIT 2 - Summary

HABIT 2 – Begin with the End in Mind – summary
- Begin with the End in Mind, means developing a clear picture of where
you want to go with your life.
- It means deciding what your values are and setting goals.
Begin with the End in Mind—What It Means

Why is it important?
1. you are at a critical crossroads in life, and the paths you choose now
can affect you forever
2. if you don’t decide your own future, someone else will do it for you
• THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE

- The paths you choose today can shape you forever. It’s both
frightening and exciting
What About Friends?
- What a powerful influence they can have on your attitude, reputation,
and direction
- often we choose our friends based on whoever will accept us. And
that’s not always good
- The wrong group can lead you down all kinds of paths you really don’t
want to be on. And retracing your steps can be a long and hard
journey.
- just be wise when choosing friends, because much of your future
hangs on who you hang out with
What About Sex?
- If you wait until the “heat of the moment” to choose which path to
take, it’s too late.
- The path you choose will affect your health, your self-image, how fast
you grow up, your reputation, whom you marry, your future children,
and so much more.
- We are free to choose our paths, but we can’t choose the
consequences that come with them
What About School?
- What you do about your schooling can also shape your future in a
major way
• WHO’S IN THE LEAD?

- The other reason to create a vision is that if you don’t, someone else
will do it for you.
- “Control your own destiny or someone else will.”
- Without an end in mind of our own we are often so quick to follow
anyone who is willing to lead, even into things that won’t get us far.
- Never assume that the herd must know where they are going, because
they usually don’t
A Personal Mission Statement

- A personal mission statement is like a personal credo or motto that
states what your life is about. It is like the blueprint to your life.
~Mission Statement~ Example
 Have confidence in yourself and everyone else around you.
 Be kind, courteous, and respectful to all people.
 Set reachable goals.
 Never lose sight of these goals.
 Never take the simple things in life for granted.
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 Appreciate other people’s differences and see their differences as a
great advantage.
 Ask questions.
 Strive each day to reach interdependence.
 Remember that before you can change someone else, you must first
change yourself.
 Speak with your actions, not with your words.
 Make the time to help those less fortunate than yourself or those who
are having a bad day.
 Read the 7 Habits every day.
- The most important thing writing a mission statement will do for you
is open your eyes to what’s really important to you and help you make
decisions accordingly.
- While everything about you changes, a personal mission statement
can be your deep-rooted tree that never moves.
- You can deal with change if you have an immovable trunk to hang on
to
• UNCOVERING YOUR TALENTS

- An important part of developing a personal mission statement is
discovering what you’re good at.
- everyone has a talent, a gift, something they do well
- We all blossom at different times. So if you’re a late bloomer, relax. It
may take you a while to uncover your talents.
- you are already born with your talents, you just need to uncover them
The Great Discovery

1. Think of a person who made a positive difference in your life. What
qualities does that person have that you would like to develop?
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2. Imagine 20 years from now—you are surrounded by the most
important people in your life. Who are they and what are you doing?
3. If a steel beam (6 inches wide) were placed across two skyscrapers, for
what would you be willing to cross? A thousand dollars? A million?
Your pet? Your brother? Fame? Think carefully…
4. If you could spend one day in a great library studying anything you
wanted, what would you study?
5. List 10 things you love to do. It could be singing, dancing, looking at
magazines, drawing, reading, daydreaming … anything you absolutely
love to do!
6. Describe a time when you were deeply inspired.
7. Five years from now, your local paper does a story about you and they
want to interview three people … a parent, a brother or sister, and a
friend. What would you want them to say about you?
8. Think of something that represents you … a rose, a song, an animal…
Why does it represent you?
9. If you could spend an hour with any person who ever lived, who would
that be? Why that person? What would you ask?
10. Everyone has one or more talents. Which of the ones above are
you good at? Or write down ones not listed.
Getting Started on Your Mission Statement

Four easy methods to help you get started writing your own mission
statement:
Method #1: The Quote Collection. Collect your very favorite quotes, the sum
of these quotes then becomes your mission statement
Method #2: The Brain Dump. Speed write about your mission for fifteen
minutes. Don’t edit, don’t stop. When your brain has been sufficiently
purged, take another fifteen minutes to edit, arrange, and make sense of
your brain dump.
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Method #3: The Retreat. Plan a large chunk of time, like an entire afternoon,
and go to a place you adore and where you can be alone. Think deeply
about your life and what you want to make of it.
Method #4: The Big Lazy.
- You are much better off writing an imperfect rough draft and then
improving it later.
- Mission statements come in many forms —a poem, a song, a quote, a
picture, many words, a single word, a collage of magazine pictures
- he most important question to ask yourself is, “Does it inspire me?” If
you can answer yes, you did it right
• THREE WATCH-OUTS
Watch-Out #1: Negative Labels. Labels are an ugly form of prejudice. When
you label someone you are pre-judging them; that means making
conclusions about someone without knowing them. Just remember, you are
not your labels.
Watch-Out #2: “It’s All Over” Syndrome. At this point you’ll often begin to
self-destruct and let it all hang out. Let me just say this. It’s never over. If
you have made mistakes, you’re normal.
Watch-Out #3: Wrong Wall. So often, in our quest to be more popular and
to be part of the “in-group,” we lose sight of things that are far more
important, like self-respect, true friendships, and peace of mind. We are
often so busy climbing the ladder of success that we never take time to see
if our ladder is leaning against the right wall. More often, we need only small
shifts. But small changes can make huge destination differences.
• GO FOR THE GOAL

- Goals are more specific than a mission statement and can help you
break down your mission into bite-sized pieces.
- Forget about any mistakes you may have made in the past.
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Five keys to goal setting:
1. KEY NO. 1: Count the Cost
o First count the cost (what you might have to give up), then
consider the benefits
o Don’t make commitments to yourself you know you’re going to
break because you’ll take withdrawals from your personal bank
account.
o Counting the cost will always add a touch of needed realism to
your goals.
2. KEY NO. 2: Put It in Pen
o “A goal not written is only a wish.”
o There are no ifs and buts about it, a written goal carries ten
times the power.
o Write it down, it makes a difference
3. KEY NO. 3: Just Do It!
o Once we are fully committed to doing a task, our power to
complete it will increase.
o “If you do the thing you will have the power.”
4. KEY NO. 4: Use Momentous Moments
o Certain moments in life contain momentum and power. The key
is to harness these moments for goal setting.
o Often, tough experiences can carry momentum.
o Learn to harness the power of key moments, to set goals and
make commitments when you are in the mood to do it.
o Be assured, as well, that the mood to do it will pass. Sticking
with it when you don’t feel like it is the true test of your
character.
5. KEY NO. 5: Rope Up
o You’ll accomplish much more in life if you’ll rope up and borrow
strength from others.
o Get creative. Rope up with friends, brothers, sisters, girlfriends,
parents, counselors, grandparents, pastors, or whomever else
you can.
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o The more ropes you have out, the greater your chances for
success.
• GOALS IN ACTION
- “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the hand of
man can achieve.”
• TURNING WEAKNESSES INTO STRENGTHS
- People who lack the native physical, social, or mental gifts they desire
must fight just that much harder.
- And that uphill battle can produce qualities and strengths they
couldn’t develop any other way.
Make Your Life Extraordinary

- Since your destiny is yet to be determined, why not make it
extraordinary and leave a lasting legacy?
- As you do this, remember, life is a mission, not a career. A career is a
profession. A mission is a cause. A career asks, “What’s in it for me?” A
mission asks, “How can I make a difference?”
- You don’t have to change the world to have a mission.
- Most of us will never do great things. But we can do small things in a
great way

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HABIT 2 – Begin with the End in Mind – summary

- It means deciding what your values are and setting goals.

Begin with the End in Mind—What It Means

• THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE

• WHO’S IN THE LEAD?

A Personal Mission Statement

• UNCOVERING YOUR TALENTS

The Great Discovery

Getting Started on Your Mission Statement

• GO FOR THE GOAL

Make Your Life Extraordinary

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