In his book, The 7 Habits on the Go: Timeless Wisdom for a Rapidly Changing World, Sean Covey builds on the work of Stephen Covey and provides practical guidance and reflective activities to support the 7 Habits of Effect People. This week we will focus on Habits 3 and 4

Habit 3: Put First Things First*

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."

--Stephen R. Covey

You prioritize your activities in this habit and focus on what matters most. Using the Time Matrix, you can evaluate your personal and work obligations based on priority and urgency. The goal is to focus your time and energy on Quadrant II, where your efforts will be most effective.

^Meriann. "Understanding the Time Matrix." FranklinPlanner Talk, July 29, 2018, blog.franklinplanner.com/understanding-the-time-matrix/. 

*Covey, Sean, and Stephen R. Covey. "Habit 3: Put First Things First." The 7 Habits on the Go: Timeless Wisdom for a Rapidly Changing World, Mango Publishing Group, Coral Gables, 2020. 

Habit 4: Think Win-Win.**

"Win-win is not a technique; it's a total philosophy of human interaction. It is a frame of mind and heart that seeks mutual benefit in all interactions. Win-win sees life as a cooperative, not a competitive, arena."

  --Stephen R. Covey

The goal of this habit is to identify a solution where everyone wins. Habit 4 discusses the concept of The Scarcity Mentality and how it might prevent authentic collaboration for a meaningful solution that will benefit all. People with a Scarcity Mentality are more inclined to view the world and relationships through a lens of threat, competition, and comparison.

Have you had a Scarcity Mindset about a challenging situation, either personally or professionally? If so, check out the 4 Ways to Shed Scarcity Mindset and Increase Collaboration from Emily Boynton at the UW Medicine's Right as Rain digital publication. In this article, she looks at the hallmarks and impacts of a Scarcity Mindset and how you can overcome this way of thinking.

**Covey, Sean, and Stephen R. Covey. "Habit 4: Think Win-Win" The 7 Habits on the Go: Timeless Wisdom for a Rapidly Changing World, Mango Publishing Group, Coral Gables, 2020.