DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

Source: «The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People», by Stephen R. Covey.

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Private victory (Independence — mastery of self)

1. Be proactive
   Take responsibility for your life.
   Focus on what you can control—your responses, not circumstances. “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”
2. Begin with the end in mind
   Define a clear personal vision and life purpose.
   Live with intention by identifying your core values. “All things are created twice: first mentally, then physically.”
3. Put first things first
   Prioritize what matters most (important over urgent).
   Practice time and energy management based on principles and roles. Focus on Quadrant II: important but not urgent tasks (planning, relationship building, renewal).

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Public victory (Interdependence — working effectively with others)

4. Think win-win
   Seek mutually beneficial solutions.
   Balance courage with consideration in relationships and negotiations. “Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit.”
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
   Practice empathetic listening before offering advice or opinions.
   Builds trust, influence, and better communication. “Most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand.”
6. Synergize
   Leverage differences to create better solutions than you could alone.
   True teamwork creates outcomes greater than the sum of parts. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

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Renewal (Continual improvement and self-reinforcement)

7. Sharpen the saw
   Regularly renew your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
   Self-care is essential for sustainable effectiveness. “We must never become too busy sawing to take time to sharpen the saw.”

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Core principles

• Effectiveness is based on aligning character with universal values like integrity, responsibility, and mutual respect.
• Internal change (character) must precede external success (performance, relationships).

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Takeaway

Long-term success and satisfaction come not from quick tips but from developing personal character, intentional habits, and principled relationships.

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”