The 7 Habits is a Mindset Trap

This is a book reaction to Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1989 

Seven Habits is an old-school mindset trap.

Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Habit 01 – Be Proactive.
Habit 02 – Begin with the end in mind.
Habit 03 – First things first.
Habit 04 – Think win-win.
Habit 05 – Seek first to understand,
then to be understood.
Habit 06 – Synergize!
Habit 07 – Sharpen the Saw.

Special Note: Habits 01, 02, and 03 focus on self-mastery and moving from dependence to independence. Habits 04, 05, and 06 focus on developing teamwork, collaboration and communication skills.

In a mindset trap, if the second habit of highly effective people is put into proaction (the first habit) and followers regift reality to begin with the end in mind, they already decided what should go first, aka the third habit. How would users align with their dreams if they did not put the end first? Hence, “self-mastery” and “independence” (the first 3 habits) demand users start with a made-up mind.

When the rapture of mindfulness is ruptured to mind both the now and when in head, other opportunities are crowded out. Other earthlings and events stand graded not by present gifts but by their utility as pawns or the means to trend make-believe ends. Change is not user-friendly because the reward allegedly comes from toughing it out to manifest chosen destinies.

When we see stubborn behavior in loved ones and politicians, they are old-school correct in their unwillingness to abandon untenable positions. The One Percent confess their dogged grit earned them the bone. No pain, no gain.

Friendly fire will argue that to succeed, GPS must have a destination. Lockstep mindsets contend the bond between the present and future is murky. Conversely, the relationship between the past and the present is personal and familiar.

Deeds over dreams. Earthlings should pay Ken (life experiences) forward to open their present (the now). Ken should never be bent or manipulated to mother the pregnant expectations from fathered futures. In a remix, ken should never be sacrificed to feed yen (desires). In another remix, open your present, don’t regift it.

Many readers miss the mindset trap the Seven Habits trips when they urge users to pick one road to travel, one bell to ring, and one life to live.