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I've Heard All This Before
by Linda Larsen, CSP
© Copyright 2000

Michael Jordan was once quoted as saying, "The minute you get away from fundamentals - whether it's proper technique, work ethic, or mental preparation - the bottom can fall out of your game, your school work, your job, whatever you're doing."

Yet it's those very fundamentals, those obvious basics, that I have sometimes heard myself dismiss with a flip, "Oh, I've heard all this before." And I certainly know that others have done that with me. I'll start to share something that I know can have a profoundly positive impact on my listener, and before I can get five words out of my mouth, they tune me out. They seem to be saying, "Well, we all know that. Tell me something I don't know."

There is absolutely nothing new in Dr. Covey's highly acclaimed, best selling 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In fact, they are all things we have heard before. He just has a unique way of saying them that gets people to listen, understand and apply the ideas. And, as he points out, it was those very basic habits, or practices, that made the people he studied so effective in the world.

What kinds of basics are we talking about? Let's pick one of Dr. Covey's as an example. "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Oh, yes, we have all heard that before. It actually was a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. We've heard it. But do we apply it? Regularly? On any kind of a consistent basis?

I'll be honest with you. In my entire life, I don't know very many people who habitually practice this fundamental. I certainly don't. I think I'm better at it than I used to be, but most of the time my OLD habit takes over. You know the one - where I'm not listening to understand; I'm listening for the other person to shut up so that I can tell them how it really is.

How about this one? You should exercise regularly. Oh yeah, right. I know I should do that. It's a basic fundamental of life. But how many times have I justified not doing it because I didn't have time, or I didn't feel like it or it was just too much trouble? More times than I'd like to admit. And how do I respond when some concerned person suggests that I would benefit from some regular exercise? I am certain you can hear my canned response.

See, we know that trying to get others to listen to us first usually doesn't work, but that doesn't stop us from doing it anyway. And we know that not exercising will, at some point in time, take it's toll on our health but that doesn't seem to move us to take action.

I remember reading once that the famous cellist, Pablo Casals, practiced his cello for almost six hours per day. He went over the same fundamental scales again and again. A reporter once said to him, "Mr. Casals, you are undoubtedly the greatest cellist who has ever lived, and yet you practice six hours per day? You are 96 years old now; why would you do that? Mr. Casals' response was, "Because I think I'm making progress." Clearly, a man who understood the power of going back to the basics.

I suggest that you take one week and consciously focus on going back to fundamentals. Here are few suggestions:

Be kind to other people.
Smile and say "hi" to the crabbiest person you work with. Ask how they are and then really listen. Even if only for a minute.
Clean out your desk drawer.
Find 15 minutes and do some aerobic activity each day.
Don't eat that doughnut.
Love yourself - even when you do something ineffective or unintended.
Drop off some clothes to the Salvation Army.
Call your mother - for no reason other than to tell her you love her.
Pray or meditate.
Read a couple of pages from a great book.

Now you and I both know that if you do these things once every 14 years, there's not much hope of making them a habit. And we know that the prospect of doing them every day for the rest of your life can seem overwhelming. So - don't do them every day for the rest of your life. Do them now. Today. Even if you don't feel like doing it, do it anyway. You'll be taking care of important things and building tremendous self-respect in the process.

Oh, and by they way, I'll bet you've heard all this before, haven't you?

Word count: 771

Tag line: Linda Larsen, CSP, helps individuals think strategically, communicate effectively, and celebrate success. She is an international keynote speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the best selling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.com or 941-927-4700.

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