Take a look at Covey’s 8th Habit [July 5, 2010]

If you haven’t had an opportunity to read Covey’s 8th Habit, take time to consider doing that this summer. To be sure, the 8th habit is not the forgotten or undiscovered 8th that attached to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It is, in fact a stand alone. The 8th habit is “to find your voice and help others to find theirs.” A person will find his/her voice at the nexus of body, heart, mind and spirit and it resides in the unique contribution that each person can make in the world. The 8th Habit certainly build on the private and public victories identified in the 7 Habits, but it goes beyond to talk about the leadership challenge found in helping others to find their voice.
Chapter 7 focuses on the importance of being a trim tab. If you do not understand this nautical reference, a trim tab is found in a large rudder, and its purpose is to help turn the rudder so the ship can turn. Often times in the organizations we work in we discover that we are a small part of a much larger ship. Turning that ship can certainly prove daunting. If you follow the lesson of the trim tab, however, you can see how focusing on the things that you can influence allows you to make a huge contribution to the work at hand.
The 8th Habit also discusses the important of aligning goals and systems to achieve results, releasing the passion and talent in ourselves and others, finding the voice and the speed of trust, and Covey’s belief that this 8th habit is preparing us to move from the knowledge-worker age to an age of wisdom.
I would strongly encourage you to give this book a read or a listen. You can find this book in both abridged and unabridged audio as well as the complete text. You will find it worth the effort, and the insight you gain will be well worth it.

Not so usual celebrations:
July 5th is Workaholics Day. So for all of you who did not bother to relax and chill on this 4th of July extended weekend, you might want to consider that this day is for you. In case you haven’t had a chance to check it out (and of course if you are a workaholic you would not have had a chance) there is a website devoted to workaholics. Check it out at www.workaholic.org The call themselves the Workaholic’s International Network, because the initials spell out WIN and we all know that workaholics are winners, at least in the work department. Perhaps, and this is only a suggestions, they suffer from an inability to find a harmonic balance in life, but you can certainly count on them to get the job done.
On the website you will find several suggestions for a survival kit, including a coffee mug, a clock with no hands, and a picture frame so that folks who love the workaholic can stay connected. In fact, it is this picture frame that we are going to encourage you to make with students.
If you have never tried making a picture frame, using craft foam can be the perfect place to start. To make this picture frame you will need the following supplies:
• craft foam (2 different colors)
• a photo to frame
• a hole punch
• scissors
• Tacky or white clue
• 5-7” of narrow ribbon
• items to decorate the frame with (foam cutouts, pain, sequins, buttons, yarn, etc.)

Directions:
• Choose a photo to frame and decide on a shape for the frame and cut the shape out of the foam (both pieces). Remember that all types of shapes will make a great frame.
• Cut a display hole in one of the pieces of foam, this is the piece that will be in the front.
• Glue the picture to the back of the frame.
• Glue front of the frame to the back, centering the picture inside the frame
• Decorate with foam cut-outs, yarn, buttons, or other items
• Punch a hole in the top and string with the ribbon.