The 7 habits of highly effective people
Chapter 2: Begin with the end in mind
2.1 What it means to ‘begin with the end in mind’
The most fundamental application of this habit is to begin today with the image of the end of your
life as your frame of reference or the criterion by which everything else is examined. Each part of
your life can be examined in the context of the whole, of what really matters most to you. By keeping
that end clearly in mind, you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not
violate the criteria you have defined as supremely important, and that each day of your life
contributes in a meaningful way to the vision you have of your life as a whole.
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It
means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the
steps you take are always in the right direction.
When you begin with the end in mind, you gain a different perspective.
2.2 All things are created twice
‘Begin with the end in mind’ is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a
mental first creation, and a physical or second creation, to all things.
To varying degrees, people use this principle in many different areas of life. To the extern to which
we understand the principle of two creations and accept the responsibility for both, we act within
and enlarge the borders of our Circle of Influence.
2.3 By design or Default
It’s a principle that all things are created twice, but not all first creations are by conscious design.
Whether we are aware of it or not, whether we are in control of it or not, there is a first creation to
every part of our lives. We are either the second creation of our own proactive design, or we are the
second creation of other people’s agendas or circumstances.
The unique human capacities of self-awareness and imagination enable us to examine first creations
and make it possible for us to take charge of our own first creation, to write our own script.
2.4 Leadership and management – the two creations
Habit 2 is based on principles of personal leadership, which means that leadership is the first
creation. Leadership is not management. Management is the second creation, which is discussed in
Habit 3. Management focuses on how to best accomplish certain things and leadership deals with the
things that are wanted to accomplished. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the
right things.” Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines
whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.
2.5 Rescripting: becoming your own first creator
Proactivity is based on the unique human endowment of self-awareness. The two additional unique
human endowments that enable us to expand our proactivity and to exercise personal leadership in
our lives are imagination and conscience. Combined with self-awareness, these two endowments
empower us to write our own script.
Chapter 2: Begin with the end in mind
2.1 What it means to ‘begin with the end in mind’
The most fundamental application of this habit is to begin today with the image of the end of your
life as your frame of reference or the criterion by which everything else is examined. Each part of
your life can be examined in the context of the whole, of what really matters most to you. By keeping
that end clearly in mind, you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not
violate the criteria you have defined as supremely important, and that each day of your life
contributes in a meaningful way to the vision you have of your life as a whole.
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It
means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the
steps you take are always in the right direction.
When you begin with the end in mind, you gain a different perspective.
2.2 All things are created twice
‘Begin with the end in mind’ is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a
mental first creation, and a physical or second creation, to all things.
To varying degrees, people use this principle in many different areas of life. To the extern to which
we understand the principle of two creations and accept the responsibility for both, we act within
and enlarge the borders of our Circle of Influence.
2.3 By design or Default
It’s a principle that all things are created twice, but not all first creations are by conscious design.
Whether we are aware of it or not, whether we are in control of it or not, there is a first creation to
every part of our lives. We are either the second creation of our own proactive design, or we are the
second creation of other people’s agendas or circumstances.
The unique human capacities of self-awareness and imagination enable us to examine first creations
and make it possible for us to take charge of our own first creation, to write our own script.
2.4 Leadership and management – the two creations
Habit 2 is based on principles of personal leadership, which means that leadership is the first
creation. Leadership is not management. Management is the second creation, which is discussed in
Habit 3. Management focuses on how to best accomplish certain things and leadership deals with the
things that are wanted to accomplished. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the
right things.” Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines
whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.
2.5 Rescripting: becoming your own first creator
Proactivity is based on the unique human endowment of self-awareness. The two additional unique
human endowments that enable us to expand our proactivity and to exercise personal leadership in
our lives are imagination and conscience. Combined with self-awareness, these two endowments
empower us to write our own script.
