“Begin with the end in mind” – Steven Covey
Last week, I had dinner with an ex-colleague and friend (a successful corporate executive) and somehow our conversation shifted to why we do what we do and the underlying motivators. He was amazed at some of the statements I was making concerning my motivators. He further asked me what was the basis and how did I start thinking the way I did.
Essentially most of my life activities aligns with my longer term life purposes. It was an ‘aha’ moment for him. This is because his own way of thinking was almost the opposite of how I make my decisions. He’s was like this – He planned to work, set up business ventures so he can earn lots of money and then will decide on what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He maintained this was how most ‘successful’ professionals thought and later suggested I facilitate a workshop on something around this, probably in the area of personal leadership (something I am now considering).
During our meeting, we agreed that unless you really know your intended life purpose, there really is no end to working to make lots of money. You find that is the reason why people just keep striving and striving to make more and more money without any predetermined purpose and thus not leaving a meaningful life, even where they are.
Steven Covey, in his best-selling book – ‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’ defined habit 2 as ‘Begin with end in mind”. He held that habit 2 is based on imagination–the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don’t make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It’s about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. I wholeheartedly share in his belief as a woman of Christian faith.
He alluded that one of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision.
So, what are your life goals or personal mission statement? As I said earlier, most of my activities are aligned with my very long term goals. One of the tools that I came across a while back which I will like to share with you (continuing from last week) is a life planning template and was developed by Mensah Otabil, a pastor based in Ghana. It involves imagining your life and who you are in the next twenty years – Who are you? What have you achieved around the different components in your life. Click here to download a copy. This can serve as a guide and can be modified it as it suits you, but I believe it captures the essence of beginning with the end in mind.
QUESTION: What motivates you to do what you do?