The world will always remember us for two things- the problem we created and the problem we solved. Which one do you want to be remembered for?
Stephen Richard Covey chose to be remembered
for the problem he came to solve. It is exactly three years (today, July 16,
2014) since Covey’s demise, but what is worthy of note is that he will continue
to be remembered and celebrated for the problem he came to solve.
Covey left behind legacies which will
continue to make positive impact on this generation and generations yet to
come. One of the things that help to indicate the problem we are called upon to
solve (our purpose in life) is our Mission Statement. Covey’s mission statement
is: WE ENABLE GREATNESS IN PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS EVERY WHERE. Every thing he
did and lived for, is reflected his mission statement.
The problem Covey came to solve is not a
small problem. It is a big problem and it is an all-time human problem. An
all-time human problem is a problem that may not be solved completely. It is a
problem that may continue to exist as long as humanity exists. As a result of
the perennial nature of the problem, covey deemed it fit to leave behind
legacies (principles) which, if applied by any person on earth, will solve the
problem permanently.
This problem is the problem of mediocrity,
problem of smallness, problem of settling for average. In every age, in every
land, in every clime, this problem is rampant. We have preferred mediocrity to excellence.
We have chosen to be small instead of being great. We have settled for average
instead of pursuing distinction.
The central message of Covey’s teaching is
that we are meant for greatness and not smallness. We are created for high
productivity and not laziness. We are created for super success and not average
performance.
Someone has said that the richest place on
earth is the cemetry. There, you will find the best doctors, lawyers, engineers,
teachers, footballers, sports persons, etc. Throughout their life time, these
persons never took the pains to develop their potentials for the benefit of humanity.
As a result of this, instead of being remembered for the problem they help to
solve, they are only remembered for the avalanche of problems they created for
the present and future generations.
The fact is that God did not create us to
live average lives. God created us to live great lives. God created us to be
great and when we fail to become the best that God wants us to be, we will end
up creating problems for the present and future generations.
Whoever you are, wherever you, whatever it is
you are doing to earn your means of livelihood, the fact you need to establish
in your mind is that YOU ARE CREATED TO SOLVE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM CONFRONTING
HUMANITY. YOU ARE CREATED TO BE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF MANKIND.
It is
your responsibility to discover the problem God created you to solve and it is
your responsibility to develop your God given potentialities for purpose of
solving that problem you are created to solve.
For Covey, the problem he was created to solve
is to inspire and motivate mankind to be the best that God mankind to be. Until
we become the best that God wants, we may never be remembered for any problem
we help to solve. Instead we may end up being remembered for problems we
constitute to humanity.
When Covey discovered the problem God created
him to solve, he took the pains to develop his writing skill, teaching skill, speaking
skill, power of reasoning and his relationship skill, to the fullest, for the
purpose of fulfilling divine assignment.
Your wealth, success prosperity and happiness
are rooted in the problem you are created to solve. Your wealth is in your
divine assignment. This is one reason you should focus less on what you stand
to gain personally and concentrate more on what others stand to gain.
True riches are gotten from the problem we
are created to solve. Money flows naturally to tho.se that can identify human
problems and at the same time proffer solutions to them. The problem with most
of us is that we are good at identifying problems, but we are very poor in
proffering solutions to them. Many things are going wrong in the society today,
but how many people have the courage to step out and find the solutions?
The credit, the glory, the commendation do
not go to the man who goes about identifying the problems in the society; they
go to the man who, after discovering the problems, go further to discover and
apply the solutions to those problems.
The problem Covey was created to solve is one
- to ENABLE CREATNESS IN PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS, EVERY WHERE. But his
solution to this problem is multi-dimensional. Most of the problems countries
of the world are facing stem from one problem - problem of leadership.
One approach Covey adopted in solving the
problem is to organize leadership training for national leaders. Any where he
was teaching at a conference, he would arrange meetings with national leaders.
So far, covey had taught and mentored 50 heads state around the world.
Covey was also proactive in his approach to
solving the problem of leadership in the world. He believed in teaching
children to be leaders. Children are indeed the leaders of tomorrow. Covey’s belief
was that if the problem of leadership is solved, the myriads of problems bedeviling
the followers would be reduced to the barest minimum.
To this end, Covey established Stephen R. Covey
and Associates in 1985, and in 1987 he converted this establishment to the Covey
Leadership Center which in 1997 merged with Franklin Quest to form FRANKLINCOVEY, a global
professional services firm and specialty retailer, selling both training and
productivity tools to individuals and to organizations.
Other approaches covey adopted in helping individuals
and organizations solved their problems include:
1. EDUCATION
Covey is remembered as an American educator.
His vision was to create schools, hospitals, governments and institutions that
innovate to create high value and to do things better. Covey also taught
children to be leaders and wanted to be remembered for that.
2. MENTORING
At conferences, seminars and any time he was
invited to speak, he always arranged meetings with national leader where he
taught and mentored them. As a leadership coach and management thinker,
corporations, organizations, business persons, etc always sought for him.
3. BOOK WRITING, AUDIO, VIDEOS
Writing is one of the effective tools Covey used
in addressing the problems of people and organizations. And to ensure that his
timeless principles, philosophy, ideals and teachings are preserved and made
available to future generations, Covey pack aged them in books, audios, videos,
lectures materials, training, etc.
Among Covey’s legacies
are the following books that he wrote:
a. THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFETIVE PEOPLE
His bestselling book, THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE earned him fame and
fortune. Since 1989 when he wrote the book, it has sold 25 million copies. The
book has been published in 38 languages. The success of this book lends
credence to the timeless principles and teachings contained therein.
b. OTHER BOOKS
Covey wrote other
bestsellers among which are:
- FIRST THING
- PRINCIPLE-CENTERED LEADERSHIP
- THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FAMILIES
- THE 8TH HABIT
- THE LEADER IN ME: HOW SCHOOLS AND PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE INSPIRING GREATNESS, ONE CHILD AT A TIME
c. AUDIO/VIDEOS/TRAINING
Covey also packaged his timeless principles,
teachings, philosophy and
ideologies in podcast, CD and DVD videos and in
training and workshop modules. To order any, you can visit Covey’s website: franklincovey.com. Note that you
can equally watch Covey’s free videos at youtube.com.
COVEY’S REWARD
There is a reward for every labour. When you
step out courageously to proffer solution to a problem confronting mankind or
people in your immediate locality, you stand to be greatly rewarded. Covey’s
focus was not on how he could become rich and famous. His focus was on how he
could empower people and organizations everywhere for greatness.
To this end, he developed and harnessed his God
given talents and potentialities. He taught, wrote, spoke, mentored, inspired
and motivated millions of people for greatness. His impact on our generation is
so massive that he was described as one of the most influential people of the
century.
Covey earned over eleven honours and awards
including International Entrepreneur of the Year and Man of Peace Award. Covey’s
lifestyle and achievement are worthy of emulation. He is a shining light to this
present and future generation.
And finally, one great lesson we can learn
from Covey is that we should focus on solving the problems of humanity. We are
created to solve problems. Everything we want in this life, including fame and
fortune, are tied to the problem we are capable and willing to solve.
And remember the world will remember you for
two things the problem you created and the problem you solved. The power to
choose is always yours and to be remembered for good by this generation and
indeed future generation.
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