FundingStrat

 

The late Dr. Stephen Covey synthesized the common patterns in the leaders he studied and worked with in his 1989 best-seller, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

 

At the core of his message is the belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions.  In order to change any given situation, we must change ourselves.  And, in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.

 

Put simply, in the context of this crisis:

 

In order to change/improve the state of things during this crisis, we must change/improve ourselves first.

 

In order to change/improve ourselves, we must change/improve our perceptions.

 

“The way we see the problem is the problem.”

-Covey

 

To undergo a paradigm shift and upgrade ourselves fundamentally, we must go beyond the surface level and alter our behavior for the long-term.

 

This is where the habits (7) come in:

1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw

 

3.  Put First Things First

 

Quick Hits:

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This pandemic has undoubtedly created a lot of pain for many.  It has also created opportunity for personal and organizational evolution.

 

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s biggest hedge fund by assets ($160B), Bridgewater Associates, lays out how he personally evolved as well as evolved Bridgewater through trying times in his 2017 best-seller, Principles.

 

Pain and how it is dealt with is at at the center of his teachings.

 

“Pain plus reflection equals progress.”

-Dalio

 

The cycle of success and upward growth, according to Ray goes as follows:

 

Setting and moving towards audacious goals –> Failure –> Learning Principles –> Improving –> Setting and moving towards more audacious goals.

 

Rinse and repeat.

 

Dalio goes on:

Keep on Reading!

 

The late Dr. Stephen Covey synthesized the common patterns in the leaders he studied and worked with in his 1989 best-seller, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

 

At the core of his message is the belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions.  In order to change any given situation, we must change ourselves.  And, in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.

 

Put simply, in the context of this crisis:

 

In order to change/improve the state of things during this crisis, we must change/improve ourselves first.

 

In order to change/improve ourselves, we must change/improve our perceptions.

 

“The way we see the problem is the problem.”

-Covey

 

To undergo a paradigm shift and upgrade ourselves fundamentally, we must go beyond the surface level and alter our behavior for the long-term.

 

This is where the habits (7) come in:

1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw

 

2.  Begin with the End in Mind

 

Quick Hits:

Keep on Reading!

 

This past weekend, Berkshire Hathaway held its Annual Meeting.  Typically billed the Woodstock of Capitalism, the meeting has routinely served as a great bellwether for the economy and business in general.

 

Here are some top takeaways from the Oracle of Omaha at this weekend’s meeting:

 

#1.  Never Bet Against America.

 

Although it may take years to assess the full impact of COVID-19 on the country/economy, Buffett remains highly optimistic about the U.S.’s economic future.

 

In the Civil War, 6% of the prime workforce, males 18-60 died.  This is a mortality rate orders of magnitude above that in the current pandemic.

 

Past crises that have brought brought businesses to their knees have been navigated, and the economic engine has ultimately roared on through.

 

Bottom Line:  Don’t bet against American (human) ingenuity.  Necessity is the mother of invention – although the landscape has drastically changed, we will get through this and problem-solve it out.

 

#2.  American (Consumer) Psychology may drastically change.

Keep on Reading!

 

The late Dr. Stephen Covey synthesized the common patterns in the leaders he studied and worked with in his 1989 best-seller, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

 

At the core of his message is the belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions.  In order to change any given situation, we must change ourselves.  And, in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.

 

Put simply, in the context of this crisis:

 

In order to change/improve the state of things during this crisis, we must change/improve ourselves first.

 

In order to change/improve ourselves, we must change/improve our perceptions.

 

“The way we see the problem is the problem.”

-Covey

 

To undergo a paradigm shift and upgrade ourselves fundamentally, we must go beyond the surface level and alter our behavior for the long-term.

 

This is where the habits (7) come in:

Keep on Reading!