Vision casting, planning, goal setting, big picture thinking….it all is important when leading a life, a business, or a project. Habit 2 of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is "Begin with the End in Mind".
It can all be a bit daunting. Covey suggests that his reader takes a journey in their mind to an event, their own funeral. To get the full effect, he encourages feeling and fully visualizing the whole thing. Imagine key loved ones, friends, and associates speaking of the difference you made in their lives and in the lives of others. What would each person? What would you hope they would say about you?
That is the point of the exercise, for you to become mindful of what is truly valuable to you, and then ask yourself if you are currently living life every day with that end in mind. It is a sobering exercise, and potentially transformational.
Unfortunately, most people must face a life crisis before choosing to make significant changes. Highly effective people are proactive and use their ability to envision and imagine the future to move them to change.
So how will you respond to this brief message? Will you take that journey to your funeral, and listen to what others will say about your life, and then make some changes?
