The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character. Stephen Covey More Quotes by Stephen Covey More Quotes From Stephen Covey Most people think of leadership as a position and therefore don't see themselves as leaders. Stephen Covey leadershippeoplethinking To judge someone before understanding that person is a form of human rejection and feeds upon itself. It intensifies personal insecurities, necessitating more judgment (prejudice) and less understanding. The processes continue in this vicious cycle. Stephen Covey rejectionunderstandingjudging Petty things become unimportant when people are impassioned about a purpose higher than self. Stephen Covey purposeselfpeople Perhaps the most important vision of all is develop a sense of self, a sense of your own destiny, a sense of unique mission and role in life. Stephen Covey destinyuniqueself Basing our happiness on our ability to control everything is futile. Stephen Covey pursuit-of-happinessplanninghappiness Strength lies in differences, not in similarities Stephen Covey inspirationteamworklying I try to exercise regularly every day, if I can. It renews you and it gives you more balance in your life. This is a key leverage point. Stephen Covey keysexercisegiving We are product of neither nature nor nurture; we are a product of choice, because there is always a space between stimulus and response. As we wisely exercise our power to choose based on principles, the space will become larger. Stephen Covey spacechoicesexercise Trust is the highest form of human motivation. Stephen Covey trustmotivationinspirational Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations. Let such things "fly out open windows" until they spend themselves. Stephen Covey argumentanswersgiving How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one. Stephen Covey interpersonal-skills7-habitstreats Don't prioritize your schedule, schedule those priorities. Stephen Covey prioritizeprioritiesschedules Compliance does not foster innovation, trust does. You can't sustain long-term innovation, for example, in a climate of distrust. Stephen Covey innovationclimatelong What you see often depends on what you are looking for. Stephen Covey depends Affirm people. Affirm your children. Believe in them, not in what you see but in what you don't see - their potential. Stephen Covey motivationalbelievechildren When life does not go our way or we inadvertently make a mistake, it is so easy to make excuses, place blame on others, or argue that circumstances were against us. But we only progress in life to the extent that we take responsibility for our actions and attitudes, and put forth the initiative necessary to create our own circumstances. Stephen Covey freedommistakeattitude Look at the weaknesses of others with compassion, not accusation. It's not what they're not doing or should be doing that's the issue. The issue is your own chosen response to the situation and what you should be doing. If you start to think the problem is "out there," stop yourself. That thought is the problem. Stephen Covey issuescompassionthinking The bottom line is, when people are crystal clear about the most important priorities of the organization and team they work with and prioritized their work around those top priorities, not only are they many times more productive, they discover they have the time they need to have a whole life. Stephen Covey teamchangelife Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant. Stephen Covey importantmilitarycommitment Happen to things, don't let things happen to you Stephen Covey things-happenhappens
