Love Works

I facilitated a Lunch and Learn series at my old job based on the book, "Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leadership" by Joel Manby. The principles in this book are based on the biblical principles of love discussed in 1 Corinthians: patience, kindness, trust, unselfishness, truth, forgiveness, and dedication. For eight weeks, we discussed and brainstormed strategies on how to improve the workplace and implement the principles of Love Works. Each week, it became clearer that I worked in a toxic environment with ineffective leadership that had no desire to let love work. How many of us work and live in toxic environments? How many of us refuse to let love work because of fear? I learned that Love Works when you let it. Love Works when you are willing to do the work. Love Works when you let go of fear and doubt and insecurity. Love works when you trust. Love works when you believe that love truly does cover a multitude of sins. Love works when you let love conquer all.

Habits

A habit is a behavioral pattern acquired by repetition. It is your morning routine, and your nightly rituals. We all have something we do consistently, good or bad. Some of us are gym rats, while others of us are couch potatoes. Some of us are avid Starbucks drinkers, while others can't live out their Coke. My father-in-law does a self assessment every couple of years based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey.  Even in his retirement, he wants to make sure he is being effective. I can admit that I have a lot of bad habits, and I am making a genuine effort to be more deliberate and effective with my thoughts, resources, and actions. What do you habitually do? Do these habits help or hinder you? Are your habits effective? Below are The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit which helps you transition from effectiveness to greatness:

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

The 8th Habit: Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”- Steven R. Covey