Several years ago my boss signed me up for a three-day workshop. THREE WHOLE DAYS! Single, in my 20s at the time and not really sure the direction my life was going, I smiled politely and secretly hoped there wouldn’t be a lot of class participation! I tried to put my nerves aside as I walked into the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People workshop a few weeks later and began learning about skills that I still use today.
I wouldn’t say the class was life-changing or that I walked away a different person, but it did give me new perspective on how much control and responsibility I had in my own life. The “habits” were not new ideas, however the way to approach and respond to each habit was. At the end of the workshop, I was still single and still afraid of public speaking, but I at least had a clear idea of what direction I wanted to take my life, and a clear vision of what my career could become!
Fast forward a few years later—my career and public speaking skills progressed, and so did my career. As I advanced to a corporate training position in my former company, my boss approached me with an opportunity to certify in the Seven Habits for Highly Effective People workshop. I would have the chance to TEACH these skills to others! I jumped at the chance and flew to Atlanta to learn more about the habits I had adopted into my life.
I will soon be celebrating 10 years of service at Cole’s Salon. It’s hard to believe in those 10 years I have had three kids, moved to the “burbs,” and become a bona fide public speaker. As Doug and I sat down to discuss my goals for 2016, the Seven Habits came into the conversation. Once again, I was given a can’t-miss opportunity—the chance to teach Cole’s team members about these habits I adopted so long ago. Yes, in a different format and environment—but still the chance to show other’s the potential they have to create a vision for themselves—not only in their careers, but for their lives.