Things I learned this week: Well really the questions should be what have I learned over reading this whole book. So much and that is what this episode is all about. I also share a list of the 21 most effective practices that is listed at the end of my book, the 20th anniversary edition. I will that as well as a few things I have learned from each habit.

Habit 1 - Be Proactive: Two things that have helped me is using proactive language and understanding my circle of influence.

Habit 2 - Begin with the end in Mind: Thinking about having a mission statement and that we can really decide how we want to live out our lives and make a more conscious choice about the principles we want to live by.

Habit 3 - Put First things First : This planning Habit of thinking about your roles and then planning out your week that way has helped me feel less anxious as well as get a few more things done. I also love this idea of staying true in the moment of choice. That when you scheduled to do something to to be with someone, follow through no matter what you may be feeling like doing at the time.

The emotional bank account : a super helpful concept especially as I notice my kids getting really annoyed with one another. Now I can tell them they need to think about putting more deposits in their siblings emotional bank account.

Habit 4 Think Win/win : So I love the idea of abundance that we all can be happy, successful, and have plenty. That our Heavenly Father designed our world that way so all of us could experience joy and abundance. I also just love to be aware of trying to get to a win/win when looking for a solution or coming up with ideas. It is out there we just need to be willing to take the journey to get there.

Habit 5 - Seek to Understand then seek to be understood: Ok I know I keep saying that I love this but this one has really been helping me with the way I listen to my kids. I also love that I am really trying to listen and doing my best to leave my autobiography aside.

Habit 6- Synergy: This one has been helpful even as trying to come to a new way of doing our afterschool life this year. Sitting down and recognizing everyone's differences and trying to come up with a great solution even better than any one of us could is so hopeful.

Habit 7 - Sharpening the Saw: The idea of renewal is something I have done for a while and now I feel like I understand it's importance. It really does help me do interact better with other when I take the time first to sharpen my own saw in all the different dimensions of my life, physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional.

Here are the 21 most effective practices that were included at the end of my book from Sean Covey.

1. Pause and response based on principles and desired results

2. Use proactive Language

3. Focus on your circle of influence

4. Become a transition person

5. Define outcomes before you act

6. Create and live by a personal mission statement

7. Focus on your highest priorities

8. Eliminate the unimportant

9. Plan every week

10. Stay true in the moment of choice

11. Build your emotional bank account with others.

12. Have an abundance mentality

13. Balance courage and consideration

14. Consider other people’s wins as well as your own

15. Create win/win agreements

16. Practice empathic listening

17. Respectfully seek to be understood

18. Value differences

19. Seek 3rd alternatives

20. Achieve Daily Private Victory

21. Balance Production and production capability

So fun to learn about this book with you over the summer and now spilling a bit into the fall.