Steven Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Powerful Lessons in Personal Change (25th Anniversary Edition) seeks to manage our habits for good, according to psychology, to help us manage conditioned responses to stimuli such as media or other people’s ideas as we plan our life with intention. Unlike Pavlov’s dogs, people are highly complex and dynamic, and each reacts differently to the same or different situations. From Stephen Covey’s list of 7 habits, let’s focus on the first 3 habits important for the creation of wealth:

1. Be Proactive: You must decide to act on your Financial Destiny
2. Begin with the End in Mind: Take responsibility to begin Wealth Creation planning initiatives
3. Put First Things First: Aim to achieve a Financial Plan

Source: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Snapshots Edition

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny”  Ancient Proverb

“You will reap what you sow, more than you sow, later than you sow” Charles Stanley, 30 Principles

Covey wisely taught that to create the life you want; you need to create the plan twice. Firstly in your mind, it must be conceived in a written plan. Secondly, engage the processes necessary in an action plan. Apply this strategy to your financial planning process. A financial planning specialist can guide you. Together you can devise a written plan. Covey also taught that we need to form interdependent relationships within the framework of a team to complete our plans – not just remain independent.

Life is, by nature, highly interdependent. To try to achieve maximum effectiveness through independence is like trying to play tennis with a golf club—the tool is not suited to reality. Interdependence is a far more mature, more advanced concept. If I am physically interdependent, I am self-reliant and capable. Still, I also realize that you and I working together can accomplish far more than I could accomplish alone, even at my best. If I am emotionally interdependent, I derive a great sense of worth within myself, but I also recognize the need for love, giving, and receiving love from others. If I am intellectually interdependent, I realize that I need the best thinking of other people to join with my own. ²