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Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Whether conscious or unconscious, they consistently, daily define what we do, are an expression of our character and can determine our effectiveness.
And while habits can be learned and unlearned, changing a habit is no small task. It can be very hard and requires time, commitment, and often, help. Which may be why the book by Steven R. Covey, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” has continued to be a best seller for decades.
The book provides a roadmap for solving personal and professional problems and is a guide for living with fairness, integrity, service and respect for human dignity. It supports the premise that we do not need to be defined by our past or circumstances and have the power to change our lives.
There are several habits in the book that can not only be applied to affecting change in our personal lives, but also in our communities – by developing a few good habits, we can collectively and powerfully impact the future of our region.
Habit number one suggests that we be proactive – if we see a problem, do our part to help fix it. There are many things we can do daily to positively impact those around us and our community. Giving of ourselves to help those in need, supporting a cause, or just being positive, welcoming and hospitable all help give our region a spirit of generosity and compassion.
Covey also recommends in Habit 2 that we “Begin with the end in mind” – or start with a clear vision of what we are trying to accomplish. What kind of region do we want to be and how do we want others to view us? This is important because how we see ourselves will affect how others see us.
The future of our economy depends largely on our ability to fill our workforce. Workers will be retiring at faster rates than we can fill their jobs with our current population. Attracting talent from outside the region will be critical to our success.
John Augustine, president/CEO of Penn’s Northeast, an economic development organization that works to attract quality employers to the region, has never seen so much activity. “More than ever, companies are looking to expand operations here. Unemployment is at a record low and competition for workers has helped drive up wages – which it should – that is what healthy competition is all about.”
“We should be proud that we live a region that has so much to offer when compared to other areas. We need to promote and celebrate what we have here. Sometimes we don’t do that well enough – we should be quicker to compliment and slower to complain – many times, those who relocate here have a better appreciation for our region than we do.”
Sometimes old habits die hard. We have a bad habit of being hard on ourselves. It is a habit worth unlearning. It is a great time for Northeastern Pennsylvania. Unemployment is low, wages are slowly increasing and changes are being made every day that are improving the quality of life here.
There is no better time than the present for us to Synergize (Habit 6,) or work together, to change perceptions so that good things continue to happen. With a little proactivity, positivity, and promotion, we can help make Northeastern Pa a great place for others to come to live, work, and play. It is good for us, our neighbors and our economy. Together we can make it happen!
