Lessons: Covey's Primary Greatness

1.      Primary Greatness is about Character (What is inside) and not Competence (Talent or What seems to be from outside);

o  Wisdom vs Self-Promotion.

o  Talent gets you the world while Character gets you here-after

2.      Without VALUES you cannot add Value.

o  HUMILITY is the mother of all virtues and COURAGE is the father

o  Pride hopes to impress, Humility seeks to serve while Arrogance shouts – I know best

3.      WISDOM is when Character & Competence overlap.

o  Info->Knowledge->Thinking->Wisdom

o  Change your opinions not principles like a tree sheds leaves but not roots

4.      CHARACTER has more influence on success than talent, intelligence or circumstances & is

o  integrity (keeping promises; no hidden agenda),

o  maturity (expressing your feelings while being considerate of other feelings)

o  abundance mentality (don’t worry about taking credit).

5.      LEADERSHIP is communicating to others their worth & potential – that inspires them

6.      Live life in CRESCENDO – the best is yet to come

o  We live too much out of memories (past) and not enough out of Imagination. Driving forward while looking in rear view mirror.

o  Memories are finite while Imagination is infinite.

o  My life is my message – Gandhi

7.      Success Levers include

o  CONTRIBUTION (your legacy)

o  PRIORITIES (arranging deck chairs on Titanic while ship was sinking),

o  Personal SACRIFICE (working extra willingly for Contribution),

o  SERVICE (beyond Ego),

o  Taking RESPONSIBILITY (no one has problem taking responsibility for success)

o  TEACH as it is the best way to learn

8.      RECIPROCITY – WIFM is secondary mindset. Win:Win is Primary mindset.

o  Charity never fails;

o  Nature is never deceived – you reap what you sow; What goes around comes around;

o  Mercy blesses the giver and receiver

9.      DIVERSITY: don’t clone yourself (Secondary greatness).

o  Without diversity there is no synergy & without synergy nothing happens;

o  Diversity is one goal & many roles

10.  LEARNING: Building character demands continuous learning.

o  Learning should be motivated by desire to be of greater service

11.  RENEWAL: Meditate

o  Words are eggs dropped from height. You can call them back, nor ignore their mess.

o  Daily take minutes 10+10+10+10 (Physical + Mental + Spiritual + Social)

12.  LOYALTY – be loyal to a person in his/her absence.

o  Backbiting eats character like termite