If you have teenagers, I highly recommend reading this book as a family! We did this several years ago with our kids. Even though, at the time they acted like they hated it, it has really sunk in with them; we hear them all of the time, even now, quoting things from it. We took one small section a week on our family night, and read it together and discussed it. It really prompted some great discussions with our teens on peer pressure, motivation and what their principals are.
Want to know what the 7 steps are? Here they are in a quick list.
1. Be Proactive
You cannot sit around waiting for someone else to do things for you and make your decisions for you. If you want something you have to go out and get it for yourself or not complain when things don't go your way.
2. Begin With The End In Mind
This step has probably been the most influential in my kids lives. Whenever they make choices they always think about where they want to be, where they are going and how that choice will get them there.
3. Put First Things First
It's all about putting things into perspective and prioritizing your life. There are a lot of good and important things out there, you just have to make sure that you are putting the things that matter the most in your life first; whatever that happens to be for you.
4. Think Win-Win
It really helps to look at a situation from someone else's perspective and see how things are effecting them too. Learning how to reach a compromise, where everyone feels they are coming out on top, is a great skill to have.
5. Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood
Another great life skill - communication skills! Learn how to listen before you talk.
6. Synergize
Learning how to deal with other people and work with them for a higher cause. It teaches how to value differences in others and be able to combine those differences to make something great.
7. Sharpen The Saw
We are all busy. Graduating from High School these days is much more difficult than when I was in school for sure. With AP classes, and Honors classes, along with Senior projects and higher class requirements it's amazing that our teens have time for anything else in their lives, but they do. Sports, jobs and social activities are also on their calendars. Sharpen the Saw teaches them how important it is to just relax and take some down time for themselves.
I promise you will not be disappointed in getting this book and reading it with your teens. It has really had a positive effect on our family for sure. These steps are not just good for teens either. Sean Covey got the steps from his dad, Stephen Covey, in "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". You will benefit from reading this as well!
Find the book here: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Agreed...fantastic book.
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