Take responsibility for your life. Instead of reacting to external circumstances, focus on what you can control—your actions, attitudes, and responses. Proactivity empowers you to choose your behavior rather than being driven by emotions or external events.

1. Be Proactive

"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions."

Define your personal vision and goals. Imagine what you want to achieve in life, both personally and professionally. By setting a clear vision of your ideal future, you can ensure your daily actions are aligned with your long-term objectives.

2. Begin with the End in Mind

Prioritize tasks based on importance, not urgency. Focus on what truly matters—activities that contribute to your long-term goals and values. Organize and execute around your priorities rather than getting lost in the chaos of immediate demands.

3. Put First Things First

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

Adopt a mindset of mutual benefit in all interactions. Seek solutions and agreements that are mutually beneficial and satisfying. By focusing on win-win outcomes, you foster trust and collaboration, making relationships more positive and sustainable.

4. Think Win-Win

"Win-win is a belief in the Third Alternative. It's not your way or my way; it's a better way."

Practice empathetic listening. Before expressing your own thoughts or trying to be understood, first seek to understand others. This habit builds deeper relationships and ensures that communication is based on mutual respect and understanding.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."

Leverage the power of teamwork and collaboration. When people work together effectively, their combined efforts create greater results than if they were working separately. Synergy celebrates differences and combines strengths to produce extraordinary outcomes.

6. Synergize

Invest in self-renewal and continuous improvement. To maintain effectiveness, you must regularly renew yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This balance ensures sustained growth and resilience over time.

7. Sharpen the Saw

"Sharpen the saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have—you."

Center your life on unchanging principles like integrity, fairness, and honesty, rather than on people, possessions, or emotions. This helps create stability and guides your decisions with consistency and clarity.

8. Develop a Principle-Centered Life

Effectiveness is about balancing the results you want (production) with maintaining and improving the assets that produce those results (production capability). This could mean taking care of your health, nurturing relationships, or improving your skills.

9. Balance Production with Production Capability (P/PC Balance)

The 7 Habits focus on personal transformation through growth. Habits like proactivity, effective planning, and empathetic communication help you adapt to change and continuously improve, allowing you to thrive in a dynamic world.

10. Embrace Change and Growth

"This is more than a book—it's a blueprint for cultivating habits that will transform your leadership, relationships, and personal growth."

The 7 habits of highly effective people is recognised as one of the most influential books ever written. In this seminal work, Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. The 7 Habits have become so famous because they work. From Habit 1: Be Proactive and Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, millions of People have worked their way through the 7 and found in them a key to transforming their lives. This book has been the key to the success of legions of business leaders and individuals the world over.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

career

Career

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

books

Books

humanresources

Human Resources

Stephen R. Covey is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Stephen R. Covey has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Stephen R. Covey's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

As a professional coach,I understand that biases can often cloud our judgment and interfere with achieving success.However, by identifying these biases and asking the right questions, you can challenge your assumptions and turn these biases into strengths that work in your favor.I have identified 10 biases I’ve had and still have sometimes in my work, followed by questions designed to help me test each assumption.This helped me navigate my biases and ensure they don’t stand in the way of my success.

Understanding and Overcoming BIASES for YOUR Career Success

It’s easy to assume we know what someone else is thinking, but that often leads to misunderstandings or missed opportunities.Question to test it:How can I find out what the person in front of me is thinking of this idea? This question reminds me to seek clarification instead of assuming, which opens the door for more effective communication.

BIAS 1: I Can Guess What People Think

Visualizing the bigger picture is often seen as a strength, but it can also limit your ability to see alternative outcomes.Question to test it:What are different outcomes that I can see, and how different is the bigger picture with different outcomes?By exploring various scenarios, you ensure that your vision is flexible and adaptable, which is crucial for long-term success.

BIAS 2: I Can Already Visualise The Bigger Picture

This bias often leads to rushed decisions without fully understanding what’s at stake.Question to test it:What do we really want to achieve? Is it the success of the project or to shine?Understanding the real goal behind your actions helps you focus on sustainable success rather than short-term visibility.

BIAS 3: If We Don’t Start Acting Fast We Lose Our Spotlight

While it’s great to be passionate, it’s a mistake to assume everyone shares the same level of enthusiasm.Question to test it:What is the motivation behind each member’s work inside this project?By understanding each person’s unique motivation, you can better align the team and leverage their strengths.

BIAS 4: Everyone In The Project Is As Passionate As I Am

Action is important, but it’s not the only measure of progress.Question to test it:What are the important elements of progress that we should take into account?This question encourages you to recognize the value in planning, strategizing, and learning, which are also key components of progress.

BIAS 5: We Are Only Progressing When We Take Action

Speed is often mistaken for efficiency, but slow doesn’t always mean ineffective.Question to test it:What other skills do slow people have, and how can we use them at their best?This perspective allows you to appreciate different work styles and utilize every team member’s unique contributions.

BIAS 6: Slow People Will Hold The Team Behind

Aesthetics matter, but content should always be the priority.Question to test it:What are the elements that make a presentation good?Focusing on both the visuals and the substance ensures your presentation delivers value and makes a lasting impact.

BIAS 7: A Good Presentation Is More Important Than Content

Assuming that everyone shares your priorities can lead to frustration and misalignment within the team.Question to test it:What is the common goal of everyone? How can I find it out? What importance do others give to these tasks or projects?By understanding other perspectives, you foster better collaboration and ensure that the team is united around a common goal.

BIAS 8: If I Think It’s Important Everyone Should Think The Same

Data is a valuable tool, but it’s not infallible.Question to test it:What are potential blind spots in the data?Recognizing the limitations of data helps you make more informed and balanced decisions, considering both the known and unknown factors.

BIAS 9: I Can Predict The Future By Looking At The Data

While ambition is crucial, it’s not the only path to success.Question to test it:What impact do I want to make? How big is the impact? What are some examples of small wins that can motivate the team?These questions can encourage anyone to break down larger goals into achievable milestones, allowing the team to maintain momentum while aiming for a bigger impact over time.

BIAS 10: You Need To Go Big Or Go Home

Build on your strength, not on your biases.

By acknowledging these biases and challenging them with the right questions, you can also sharpen your self-awareness and lead your team more effectively.This process not only helps you stay on track for success but also improves communication, decision-making, and overall project outcomes.Recognizing and questioning these assumptions will help you navigate complexities with a clearer, unbiased perspective, ultimately driving better results for your business or career.

Acknowledge Your Biases

I'm a coach dedicated to helping YOU find the career path that suits you best.My goal is to guide you in building the life you want, empowering you to make informed decisions that align with your passions and values.If you would like to learn more, schedule a FREE consultation call.https://claudia-coaching.my.canva.site/

Hi, I’m Claudia!

CLAUDIA COACHING

strategy

Strategy

problemsolving

Problem Solving

entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Biases

Always make those above you feel superior. Do not make them feel threatened by your talents.

Never Outshine the Master

Friends can betray you more easily than enemies. Use former enemies to your advantage, as they have more to prove

Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies

Keep people off balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.

Conceal Your Intentions

The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish or damaging. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less

Always Say Less Than Necessary

Your reputation is a key element of your power. Protect it fiercely, and be wary of attacks that could damage it.

So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard It with Your Life

Explanation: In the realm of power, being noticed is essential. Without attention, you remain irrelevant. Greene emphasizes that standing out is key to gaining influence. This law suggests using dramatic actions, bold moves, or captivating appearances to draw attention. Even negative attention is better than being ignored, as obscurity is dangerous. However, once you have attention, it must be strategically maintained; too much can lead to overexposure and backlash

Court Attention at All Costs

Explanation: Power often comes from delegation and leveraging the work and talents of others. By using the skills and efforts of others, you can achieve your goals while conserving your energy and resources. This law advises you to be strategic in your collaborations: delegate tasks to others, but position yourself as the key figure or visionary behind the work, ensuring you receive recognition. Be careful, however, to not alienate those you rely on by exploiting them too overtly.

Get Others to Do the Work for You, but Always Take the Credit

Explanation: This law revolves around the idea of control. By making others come to you, you dictate the terms of engagement, which gives you the upper hand in negotiations and interactions. Drawing others into your territory or sphere of influence makes them dependent on you. To entice them, you might need to offer something they desire (the bait), but once they take it, they are within your control. This tactic prevents you from overextending yourself and allows you to maintain your power base.

Make Other People Come to You – Use Bait if Necessary

Explanation: Arguments and debates rarely produce lasting victories, as they can provoke resentment and defensiveness in the other party. This law teaches that actions are a far more powerful tool than words. Demonstrate your power, skill, or authority through what you do, rather than what you say. When you win through action, it is undeniable and often irrefutable, whereas words can be twisted or dismissed. Leading by example, rather than by argument, also tends to inspire greater respect and loyalty.

Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

Explanation: Misery and negativity can be contagious. Greene advises that you steer clear of chronically unhappy, unlucky, or destructive individuals, as their problems can easily become your own. Surrounding yourself with negativity can drag down your energy, reputation, and outlook. This law emphasizes the importance of being selective with whom you associate, as the company you keep can have a profound influence on your success and well-being. Instead, cultivate relationships with positive, successful, and forward-thinking people.

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

The first 10 laws of the 48 laws of power follow fot more

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.   Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Robert Greene is an American author of books on strategy, power, and seduction. He has written six international bestsellers, including The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature.

Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power

A recent study of the careers of scientists, film directors and artists, conducted by academics at Northwestern University, looked at hot streaks in people’s careers – intense periods of high achievement, lasting a decade or more. What conditions have to be present for a hot streak to occur? The study found that before the hot streak begins there is an exploration phase, when new ideas are gathered, which is followed by a period of exploitation, when those new ideas are turned into original and impactful work.

Exploration - Exploitation - Hot Streak

This is similar to the explore/exploit dynamic, an idea from computer science, which says that to make the best decisions we should find the correct balance between gathering information (exploring our options) and making the most of what we know (exploiting that information). To make the best decisions, we need to balance exploration and exploitation.

The Explore/Exploit Dynamic (or Tradeoff)

What the research found was that neither exploration nor exploitation alone was critical to a hot streak: it was the transition from explore to exploit that mattered. Exploring before exploiting means you can discover the most productive ideas and expand your creative possibilities. What matters is the switch.Too much exploration can be risky: you end up as a dabbler, a dilettante. Too much exploitation can be boring: you don’t discover enough new information to do interesting, original work. To have a hot streak, a burst of your best work, we need to switch from explore to exploit.

What Matters Is The Switch

Importantly, the study’s findings were robust whether the hot streak came early in a career or late. We can make the switch later in our career and still see the same effect.This broad pattern, of shifting from exploring to exploiting, can be observed in the lives of late bloomers.

The Switch And The Late Bloomers

Most late bloomers go through these two stages. First, they take a long and winding road, an essentially unplanned career path. Then, they get the opportunity for success through some combination of the right people, the right place and the right time. Their network, the culture they move to, a personal transformation – or some combination of these – take the disparate experiences of the first stage and turn them into the focused output of the second stage. They make the switch from explore to exploit and enter a hot streak. They just happen to do it later than their peers.

From Disparate Experiences To Focused Output

Late bloomers rarely take conventional career paths to success; if they did, perhaps they would not be late. Their progress is punctuated and disrupted, not smooth and steady. In this stage, their careers are often either dormant or patchwork, made of seemingly disparate parts. This might look listless, directionless or inefficient: rather than working towards a specific goal, late bloomers prepare for the unknown, the unexpected, the unstated.

Late Bloomers Prepare For The Unknown & The Unexpected

Second, late bloomers find their niche or opportunity – some turn in their luck, some discovery, some change in their circumstances comes along and makes them a channel for their talents. They get direction, focus, challenge, resources, support, opportunity. This is when they exploit the capabilities and preparation from the first stage. We shall see, again and again, the importance of preparing for your luck – chance really does favor the prepared mind.

And Then A Channel Comes Along

This second stage has three conditions, which are not all present in all cases, but which are reasonably consistent: right people, right place, right time. To understand how late bloomers leave the long and winding road and arrive at the place where they achieve so much, how they switch from explore to exploit, we need to look at their networks, the culture they live and work in, and the transformational moments in their lives, or their crisis points.

3 Conditions: Right People, Right Place, Right Time (or Crisis)

What we will see is that weak ties – the phrase sociologists use to describe people we are only slightly acquainted with – are the people who can change our prospects, but only if they are influential. Good networking is not about knowing all the best people, but the few who can be credible and persuasive to the people we need to reach.

Right People (The Bridges)

Personal transformation happens through cultural immersion, sampling the world and changing our surroundings. In new circumstances, gradually sampling our way into a new mode of thinking, living or working, we can change our opportunities, perhaps even change ourselves.

Right Place (The Waters)

Moments of crisis have to be taken advantage of, not ignored or suffered through, whether that’s a personal tragedy, a moment of inspiration, or a gradual attrition of your will, causing dissatisfaction that culminates in desperation to change. Sometimes there are good reasons to have a midlife crisis, not to accept a slump but to use it as a pivot point.

Right Time (The Dive)

Persistence: Though they often don’t work towards a specific goal, neither do late bloomers “lavish their life away on useless trifles”, in Samuel Johnson’s phrase. They persist in following their interests and ambitions; they are unable to let it go, but, sometimes by necessity, sometimes by choice, they have to be flexible about how and when this persistence accrues into a tangible achievement or accomplishment.

3 Traits: Persistence, Earnestness, Quiet Ambition

Earnestness:Late bloomers are serious, perhaps intense, obsessive, occasionally eccentric, volatile, or weird. Not infrequently, the people around them don’t quite understand who they are capable of being. Their earnestness can make them seem strange, off-putting, and makes it difficult to see how and where their talent could flourish: their capability often hides in plain sight.

Quiet Ambition: Late Bloomers’ ambitions are usually secret, or unknown to themselves for a long time. They pursue their interests quietly. Their ability and confidence grow with experience. It might be quite late in the day when they realize that their capabilities actually make them fit for some exceptional enterprise.

So, despite the fact that late bloomers are often overlooked, they are often quietly, persistently developing the qualities, on the long and winding road that will eventually lead them to success, when the right opportunity comes along. Importantly, the more active they are in this process, the more likely they are to find that opportunity and turn it to their advantage.

“Do Your York And I Shall Know You”

Do your work and I shall know you. Do your work and you shall reinforce yourself.

Excerpted from “Second Act: What Late Bloomers Can Tell You About Success And Reinventing Your Life”, by Henry Oliver.

Late bloomers tend to follow unconventional paths, quietly developing key qualities and skills while being overlooked.

business

Business

startup

Startups

3 Subtle Traits Of Successful Late Bloomers

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."

The true value of self-help books comes from applying what you learn. Reading is only helpful if you act on it.

1. Action Over Knowledge

"The faintest ink is better than the best memory."

Keep track of important lessons by highlighting and taking notes. This helps reinforce ideas and makes it easier to revisit key points.

2. Take Notes

"Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain."

Embrace discomfort, like taking cold showers or facing challenges head-on. The more you confront your fears, the more control you gain over them.

3. Overcome Fears

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

Not all self-help advice will work for everyone. Adapt lessons to fit your unique personality and circumstances.

4. Customize Advice

"You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct, and control your own environment."

Self-help books can offer guidance, but ultimately, you are responsible for your growth. Take inspiration, but apply it in your own way.

5. Be Your Own Mentor

<ul><li>Your support means the world to me! When you like and comment, it not only motivates me but also tells me that you’re enjoying the content.</li><li>Every like and comment encourages me to create even better posts just for you.</li><li>Plus, when you engage, you’re helping others discover content they’ll love, too! So, if you find value here, hit that like button and drop a comment. Let’s grow and learn together!</li></ul>

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The Truth About Self-Help Books No One Tells You!

https://slowgrowth.com/newsletter 
☝️ Don’t have time to read 100 books? Get my weekly emails for the best self-help content on the Internet.

I read 100 self-help books. From The Power of Now to Deep Work, to Daring Greatly and Awaken the Giant Within. You can say that I have a bit of a problem. But I learned so much from these books, and the lessons might change the way you look at self-help.

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Hi there 👋 If you're new to my videos my name is Matt D'Avella. I'm a documentary filmmaker, entrepreneur and YouTuber. I've made a couple documentaries for Netflix. I also teach courses on everything from filmmaking to habit change. If you like to nerd out about self-development as much as I do, you can subscribe for weekly videos.

🔗 LINKS
Enroll in my habit's course:  https://slowgrowth.com/simplehabits
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🎬 Credits
Directed by Matt D'Avella
Produced by Emma Norris & Matt D’Avella
Associate Produced by Nicole Tabak

philosophy

Philosophy

mindfulness

Mindfulness

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

videos

Videos

Hi there 👋 If you're new to my videos my name is Matt D'Avella. I'm a documentary filmmaker, entrepreneur and YouTuber. I've made a couple documentaries for Netflix. I also teach courses on everything from filmmaking to habit change. If you like to nerd out about self-development as much as I do, you can subscribe for awesome videos.

If you like my videos, you might like my courses where I go even deeper into topics like self-development, creativity & filmmaking: http://slowgrowth.com
 
Thanks for your support.

Matt D'Avella

I read 100 self-help books. Here’s what I learned…

“Art is theft.”

Everything creative builds upon what came before. Don’t wait for inspiration or originality; instead, borrow ideas, remix them, and make them your own.

1. Nothing is Original

“It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

The best artists collect influences from a wide range of sources, not just one. When you combine ideas from multiple areas, you create something unique.

2. Steal from Many Sources

“Stay interested in everything.”

Don’t force yourself to work on things that don’t excite you. Follow what naturally grabs your attention, and use that curiosity as a guide for your creative work.

3. Follow Your Curiosity

“Do what you love, and the necessary resources will follow.”

Pursue things that genuinely interest you, not just what's trending. The passion will show in your work, and it will resonate more with others.

4. Work on Projects You Love

“Your side projects are your purest form of self-expression.”

Your side projects and hobbies can lead to breakthroughs. Don’t dismiss them as distractions; sometimes, they become the source of your best work.

5. Side Projects Lead to Big Ideas

“Collect things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story.”

Collect ideas, quotes, and inspiration from the world around you. Organize them in a way that helps you remember them and use them when needed. Avoid cluttering your space or mind with things you’ll never use.

6. Be a Collector, Not a Hoarder

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

You don’t need anyone's approval to start being creative. Take initiative and begin working on your projects now, even if you feel unqualified or unprepared.

8. Don’t Wait for Permission

Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery—it’s the sincerest form of learning.”

Start by copying your heroes. In the process, you'll learn their techniques, and eventually, your own voice will emerge. Imitation is the first step to innovation.

9. Imitate, Then Innovate

“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.”

Constraints like time, money, or tools can actually make you more creative. Limitations force you to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions.

10. Limitations Fuel Creativity

It’s time to unlock your creative side and start making amazing things! 🌟✏️Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon will show you simple, fun ways to find inspiration and create work you're proud of. 💡🚀🚀 Don’t wait—start your creative journey today!📚 Get your copy now:🌍 For International Readers: <a href="https://amzn.to/4h5VETQ">Click here</a>🇮🇳 For Indian Readers: <a href="https://amzn.to/4f0PT7S">Click here</a>Let your creativity shine! 🌟

Ready to Boost Your Creativity? 🎨✨

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Follow Me for More Inspiring Content ✍️

How Great Artists Steal? And Why You Should Too!

You don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be yourself. That’s the message from Austin Kleon, a young writer and artist who knows that creativity is everywhere, creativity is for everyone. A manifesto for the digital age, Steal Like an Artist is a guide whose positive message, graphic look and illustrations, exercises, and examples will put readers directly in touch with their artistic side. When Mr. Kleon was asked to address college students in upstate New York, he shaped his speech around the ten things he wished someone had told him when he was starting out. The talk went viral, and its author dug deeper into his own ideas to create Steal Like an Artist, the book. The result is inspiring, hip, original, practical, and entertaining. And filled with new truths about creativity: Nothing is original, so embrace influence, collect ideas, and remix and re-imagine to discover your own path. Follow your interests wherever they take you. Stay smart, stay out of debt, and risk being boring—the creative you will need to make room to be wild and daring in your imagination.

Steal Like an Artist

Find 100+ Career Tips & Insights - Curated from inspiring sources like Books, Podcasts & Articles - Genuine Insights from like-minded Users like You!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Biases

The 48 Laws of Power

3 Subtle Traits Of Successful Late Bloomers

I read 100 self-help books. Here’s what I learned…

Steal Like an Artist

The Black Swan

#1881 - Rick Rubin

You're 18? YOU NEED These Skills

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Biases

The 48 Laws of Power

3 Subtle Traits Of Successful Late Bloomers

I read 100 self-help books. Here’s what I learned…

Steal Like an Artist

The Black Swan

#1881 - Rick Rubin

You're 18? YOU NEED These Skills

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.