2 Quick Gems from Stephen Covey

I took a week off recently and returned to reading one of my favorite authors, Stephen Covey. Two quotations grabbed me by the jugular that I had to read and re-read several times. One is from his book First Things First (1994) that addresses happiness and ‘self-improvement’ and one relates to something going on right now in our economy – although no one wants to make this particular point!

1. “We settle for the illusion society sells us that meaning is in self-focus – self-esteem, self-improvement. But the wisdom literature of thousands of years repeatedly validates the reality that the greatest fulfillment in improving ourselves comes in our empowerment to more effectively reach out and help others. Quality of life is inside out. Meaning in is contribution, in living for something higher than self.”

Too often I get caught in the trap of thinking too egotistically about ‘what can I do that will help me and quick-fix cheer me up?’ and missing the point that I feel best when I’m helping others grow their business by getting more referrals, when I’m coaching kids improv comedy on a Tuesday night, breaking bread with friends and family, and/or playing with my sister’s kids who are five and seven.

This is the kind of paradigm shift that could change everything for you. Happiness is not in the ‘me me me’ but in making a difference to others.

The other quotation that hit me was this ‘alternative’ explanation as to why SOME of the downsizing that’s happening now was predictable. Covey argues in The 8th Habit (published over four years ago!) that we’ve already left the industrial age behind and are moving rapidly into the information/knowledge worker age.

2. “Our only real economic security lies in our power to meet human needs; (it) does not lie in our organizations or our jobs.” 

You might want to read that again. In other words, our real ‘job’ is to make sure that we stay on top of changes in the world. In this way we make sure that we continue to meet human needs and continually add value to others as the world economy continually changes.Books written on what it takes to be very affluent in this culture say exactly the same thing: Add more (business) value than others and fulfill more needs and you will be reimbursed accordingly.

How well does your job meet human needs right here, right now?

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