What does it mean to be proactive?
The Merriam Webster definition of proactive is, “Acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes.” The ability to be proactive is so essentially tied to success that it is #1 on Stephen Covey’s list, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Every day we’re faced with choices. We can either respond to what’s going on in the world or we can predict what may happen and prepare for it. While there are many things that are beyond our control – global crises, societal trends, a tree falling in our yard – there are many more – discovering potential sales leads, setting your top three priorities for the week, exercising – that we can do something about which will make the occurrences in our life either less negative or more positive.
Covey suggests that you spend your time focusing on the things that you can control, rather than the things that are outside of your control.
People often believe that we are a product of nurture or a combination of nurture and nature. Covey disagrees. He believes we are a product of choice. Regardless of whether the cards dealt to us were stacked in our favor or against us, Covey believes it’s how we decide to respond wherein we find our destiny. Check out this video to learn a little more about how Covey believes that being proactive is at the core of happiness and meaningful life design.
