Good habits help to develop good character. When I was in business, I worked with an executive who started as a poor boy, selling vegetables from his garden and wagon on the streets of New York. After finishing public school, he got his degree in accounting at night. He joined the corporation and later he became executive vice president of a major company.
I once asked him to what he attributed his success. He replied, “Several things, but mainly my good work habits. I don’t always use them, but I’ve got them.” I laughed and said, “I’ve got good habits too, but like you, I don’t always use them.” He said sharply, “You misunderstood. When I want to work, I don’t use my habits, but when I don’t want to work, I have to use them.”
Good habits not only bring us success; they also save us time. Once I told my friend Mr. Jarman that I was a person of few habits. He replied, “You must waste a lot of time.”
Habits should always be kept current in order to be effective. As our responsibilities change, so should some of our habits. Therefore it is important to occasionally reassess our habits to be sure they are still needed and effective. Here are four that seem to be essential all the times:
- Punctuality
- Truthfulness
- Perseverance
- Willingness to accept responsibility
Make no excuses and give yourself no free passes, because habits are the first step in critical process. Habits become reflexes, which become automatic responses, which then become a lifestyle. It is important not to make exceptions to good habits. Bad habits can become ingrained just as good ones can, so the decision to monitor the development of positive habits is key in personal development.
An automatic pilot system erected on good habits enables us to say “I will” when “I won’t” seems a lot more natural.
The above article is taken from an excellent book, “Breakfast With Fred” by Fred Smith Sr. A must read! You can find out more about it at http://breakfastwithfred.com.
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