W07 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

Of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the one habit that has the most meaning to me at this time in my life is habit number two: Begin with the end in mind. I love to solve problems. This habit has helped me to solve them most effectively. The first questions I ask myself when working on a new project or addressing a problem is, “What is my ultimate goal?” or “In a perfect world, how would this process function?”.

Time is the most valuable resource available. Working for the sake of being busy is not an effective use of time. Beginning with the end in mind sets a straighter path towards a goal. The straight path always arrives quickest to the destination. It prevents wasted efforts on working toward something that will have to be done over again.


This principle applies well to life. What type of person do I want to be? Once this has been established, I can build and plan daily habits that will help me to become that person. The older I become, the more that I’d like to be someone who is well-respected in my field. By first thinking about the end and what my ultimate goal is, I can work backward to develop a personal code of conduct, habits, and daily rituals that will help me to get there. The ability to visualize the future and outcomes is a tendency that will help me prepare a foundation for any goal that comes to mind.


All 7 habits are important in their own way and if taken seriously can provide passion and purpose to life. They work and progress together. Each habit is a stage to pass through. As I move through them, I evolve as a person. This starts with private victories. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” The most significant changes happen from the inside out. When I work on myself, I open the door to being willing to work with others and expose my mind to new ideas. With this mindset, I can draw closer to becoming the best version of myself because I am willing to have a perspective that changes over time - and that is something to be excited about.

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