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Everyone Needs a Motto for Life
What Is Yours?
Years ago, as a graduate student, my professor required me to read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey, and it was absolutely life changing for me. I think at first, Covey wrote it with the business world in mind, but it eventually grew to encompass most people in most walks of life, including different age groups. There’s a version for kids, teens, schools programs, and probably a few more of which I’m unaware.
My original exposure to the first book was in an education class. It taught me some awesome concepts. Of all the seven habits, my favorites and the ones that had the greatest impact on me were habits four and five: Think Win/Win and Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.
As a teacher at a middle school, I was part of implementing their school program, passing down the 7 Habits to my students. It was a great program, and since I was already very familiar with it, I was happy to incorporate it. I think it did some good.
Part of my responsibility as a teacher was to come up with a motto of sorts. I can’t remember what they called it, but essentially, you were supposed to come up with a slogan that described the person you were most completely. Then, I was to post it inside the classroom for everyone to see. I considered it carefully and devoted quite a bit…