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

So how does this apply to Calisthenics?

Well I decided to try to apply these 7 pearls of wisdom to the world of Calisthenics Training with the intention of providing a better frame of reference. It is my hope that by applying these practical success principles from the Business/Self Help world, the domain of health and fitness especially Calisthenics will positively benefit as well.

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Being proactive really means taking initiative. It’s about being action oriented in everything you do, especially with regards to your workout routine, nutrition and sleep.

If you want C.A.N.I. (Constant And Never-ending Improvement) you have to go after it and get it. (For a moment I felt like Rocky Balboa giving a lecture to his son)

All kidding aside, when you take action in your life towards the attainment of your goals, an interesting thing begins to happen. You develop momentum like a snowball on top of a mountain peak.

As the snowball ascends down the mountain it gains speed (aka momentum) and gets bigger with each gyration and spin.

You too will gain momentum as each day passes as you complete your workouts, eat right and sleep. Each day builds upon the next.

Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind

This habit is all about focusing on what is important to you. What matters most to you? What drives you? This is really about self-discovery. In terms of working out, it’s really about what is your driver? Only you know the answer to this question. It’s the reason you workout even when you sometimes don’t feel like it.

When you know your why the hows become a whole lot easier. This habit is all about introspection. It’s about getting to know what you really love and the fuel the keeps the fire stoked.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Prioritization. It’s really that simple. Probably one of the best images on this came from Covey himself.

It’s called his Time Management Matrix.

This is great little tool for asking yourself is this something I need to be doing now?

On the left side is labeled Important versus Not Important and on the top it’s labeled Urgent versus Not Urgent.

Next time you find yourself in a dilemma as to whether or not you “should” do this or that run it against this handy dandy matrix. It will squash any doubts you had about whether or not to do whatever you were in a pickle deciding what to do.

Here’s a nice formula to remember :

Urgent  + Important = ACT

Urgent  + Not Important = DELEGATE

Not Urgent  + Important =  PLAN

Not Urgent  +  Not Important = ACT

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

When you think win win, you are considering all those that may be directly and indirectly affected by your action(s).

This habit is about looking for the advantage for all involved.

Think Win Win, really means, asking yourself, how is what I am doing contributing to the greater good.

Some of you may be thinking, it’s just working out, come on, do we have to be so serious?

It’s not about being serious, it’s about, thinking about more than just yourself. it’s about thinking about your family & friends, your community, etc. and how they too can be positively impacted and benefit from your actions.

The Native Americans Iroquois have a what is called, Great Law of the Iroquois – which holds appropriate to think seven generations ahead (about 140 years into the future) and decide whether the decisions they make today would benefit their children seven generations into the future.

Now that is thinking win win.

Here is a great diagram that really shows all those that can be directly and indirectly by your influence.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Knowledge is very important, yet knowledge without action is useless. How many people do you know that “know what to do, they just don’t do what they know.”

There are a lot of smart people in the world just barely surviving.

Why is that?

I think it goes back to this concept of seeking to first understand the other and their point(s) of interest and view(s).

With exercise it is the same thing.

The great and late speaker and writer, Zig Ziglar, once said, “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

And what do most people crave?

Attention and the chance to for someone to just listen.

In your training, no man nor woman is an island. We need the help and support of others. It’s through our constant and never-ending attention to others that we too benefit.

Habit 6:  Synergy

This is good old fashion teamwork. Working together to build, create, construct, produce something that alone would have been virtually impossible.

Yet in the company of others, something great happens.

The formation of a “mastermind”, thus the phrase, mastermind group.

When we come together, we create a MASTER mind. A mind greater than the sum of its parts.

This is the real definition of genius.

And why sports such as CrossFit and Street Workouts have been so popular.

They are collaborative group endeavors.

Synergy is just that, the coming together of like minded people to create something much greater than themselves.

Habit 7:  Sharpen the Saw

 This is what i like to call, your own private down-time. This is why men create man caves and people love to meditate. It’s the reason we like to unwind. Like a battery that is on its last charge or a car on it’s last gallon of gas. We all need to re-charge and re-fuel. For some it’s watching a movie and for others it’s working out.

Sharpening the saw, is time for you, to re-collect and re-gather your thoughts.

Each of us knows what it is that recharges us.

For me it’s working out. Its my own private re-charging station.

After a great workout, I feel re-vitalized, renewed, refreshed.

We all have to do this step. it is essential to our own well being and sanity.

In conclusion, I have shared my own take on the wise and profound wisdom of Stephen R. Covey. I hope it benefits you as much as it has me, and that you can begin applying the 7 habits not only to working out but to all aspects of your life.