“It becomes obvious that if we want to make relatively minor changes in our lives, we can perhaps appropriately focus on our attitudes and behaviours. But if we want to make significant, quantum change, we need to work on our basic paradigms”

Stephen R. Covey

So what is a paradigm you ask?

A paradigm is: A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

Having really enjoyed the following book myself, I was impressed with the way Wikpedia summarises Dr Covey’s philosophy:

‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, Covey’s best-known book, has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide since its first publication in 1989. (The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies.)

Covey argues against what he calls “The Personality Ethic”, something he sees as prevalent in many modern self-help books. He instead promotes what he labels “The Character Ethic”: aligning one’s values with so-called “universal and timeless” principles.

Covey adamantly refuses to conflate principles and values; he sees principles as external natural laws, while values remain internal and subjective.

Covey proclaims that values govern people’s behavior, but principles ultimately determine the consequences. Covey presents his teachings in a series of habits, manifesting as a progression from dependence via independence to interdependence.

Tony’s View: Unqualified as I may be to comment on the philosophies of a Harvard MBA and world authority on Personal and Managerial Effectiveness, I would simply challenge you, the reader to reflect on what you stand for.

• How do you want to manage your life?

• Which values are part of your personal belief system?

Reflecting on some of those issues may well help you to shape your own destiny because when you understand which beliefs drive you, it will help you figure out the kind of life you want and how you will get there.

Sometimes too, our beliefs may have been formed on incorrect information and they may well be the ones that can hold you back from achieving your goals in life.

These topics merit far more elaboration than is intended in today’s post, so for now I will merely comment on one of my core-beliefs – the importance of work/life balance.

Taking time out for yourself  (‘me time’) and allocating time for family and friends is vitally important in today’s hectic world.

One of the greatest ways of combining those needs is to take a family vacation to new and exciting places.

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