One time I learned that there were four essential ingredients to reaching a new level of personal development. Over the years, these proved to be true: 1) You have to have KNOWLEDGE that there is a better way. 2) You have to have a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, so you are receptive new thinking and ideas. 3) You have to develop new SKILLS with what you've learned. 4) You have to practice so the new skills become a HABIT.
GOOD HABITS are very valuable. However, the most effective leaders are constantly in a state of renewal, leaving their HABITS open to adjustment and change. Sometimes you have to dump them! Without this ongoing evaluation, HABITS can be our downfall.
I came across this telling description of the power of our HABITS...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.
I will push you onward and upward, or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Ninety percent of the things you do
might just as well be turned over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed,
show me exactly how you want something done
and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great people
and alas! of all failures as well.
I am not a machine,
though I work with all the precision of a machine,
plus the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit
or run me for ruin-
it makes no difference to me.
Be too easy with me and I have the power to disappoint ...and destroy you.
Take me, train me, be FIRM with mean I will place the world at your feet.
Are your HABITS placing the world at your feet?
Do you have any HABITS standing in your way?
Debbe
Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
author, Putting Our Differences to Work
Visit Women in the Lead at www.globaldialoguecenter.com/women
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