Forget The 7 Habits… Here Are 30 Ways To

Become Highly Effective

By Ryhen Satch
http://virtualsynapses.blogspot.com

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”
- Albert Einstein

This article contains more than four thousand words so I decided to make this introduction as short as I can. I

know your time is valuable, so instead of recommending “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen

Covey, which is, by the way, a good book, I just thought of creating this article for you. The average person can

get to the end of this post in ten to fifteen minutes. Reasonably, that’s a short amount of time compared to

reading a book for a whole day or, perhaps, a whole week.

I divided my thirty principles into three segments. None of these were taken from the book I mentioned. The

first segment involves concepts that help you develop integral aspects of your self. The second segment provides

ways to deal with the people around you. The third and last segment contains methods to keep you in control of

external factors in your life.

“Don’t worry about it. As soon as you step outside that door, you’ll start feeling better. You’ll remember you

don’t believe in any of this fate crap. You’re in control of your own life. Remember.”- The Oracle, from the

Matrix Trilogy

YOURSELF

1. By Having a Thirst for Knowledge

“Daddy what are those things?” was my six-year old daughter’s question upon seeing the bones unearthed by

archeologists inside an underground burial chamber in Rome. I was watching a feature story on National

Geographic about ancient catacombs when my daughter sat beside me to enjoy the drama. Not surprisingly, as

soon as I answered her initial question, my little drill sergeant went on to bombard me with more challenging

inquiries.

It is quite amazing to observe how we, even from an early age, exhibit a predisposition to learn more about life

through the basic process of inquiry. Apparently, effectiveness is first acquired by having a thirst for knowledge.

The more you learn about things, the better you become in facing the world in which you were born. Ask

yourself these questions: Do you think this article can make you a better person? Do you think the information

you will get in this article can be acquired elsewhere in the same manner presented here? Do you think you will

learn something new from this post?

2. By Keeping an Open Mind

You interpret the world in your own unique way. All of us have what we call “reality tunnels.” New ideas take

the form of information which passes through your reality tunnel. These are filtered by five basic elements:

values, beliefs, memories, decisions, and meta-programs. If a new idea cannot permeate these filters, you are

inclined to reject it and tag it as false information. Keep your reality tunnel in check from time to time by

becoming aware of your own values, beliefs, memories, decisions, and meta-programs. An open mind provides

the opportunity for meaningful ideas to come in.

3. By Getting Close to Nature

“What is the meaning of life?” I’m quite certain you have come across this question dozens of times before. I

can’t give you the answer because you must find it on your own. However, I’m absolutely sure your HD

television set, your laptop, your house, or your car will not even give you a small hint about the truth. The truth

is out there – in nature.

Every living organism found in nature holds a force within it that allows itself to transmute into something else.

Obviously, this quality is not found in inorganic matter. Invigorate your spirit by observing life around you. You

have the same force within you that also wants to turn you into something else. In this case, it wants to turn you
into a highly effective person.

4. By Perfecting Your Own Character

In modern personality theories, an individual is said to possess several different archetypes. An archetype is a

model of personality or behavior that you copy to build up your overall character. Doctors, lawyers, policemen,

musicians, and architects are just a few examples. I’m not really sure if beerhead, MILF, hottie, and douche bag

all qualify as archetypes, but I guess you can add those in too.

Take a moment to identify how many archetypes you possess. On my end, I came up with the following: father,

husband, son, brother, writer, frustrated musician, an upcoming yogi, a potential hermit, etc. Once you have

your own list, then you can ask yourself this question, “What have I done lately to become the best example of

these characters?”

5. By Staying Optimistic

There are times when you find yourself in very bad situations where it is almost certain for you to run out of

options. A few months ago, one of my friends introduced me to an astounding principle. She said, “Dude, there

are two kinds of problems in this world; ones you can solve and ones that make you powerless. If you’ve done

everything to find a solution and you fail, just shut up.” She was right. Not only did it stop me from worrying, it

also prevented me from nurturing negative thoughts inside my head.

In occult teachings, it is said that thoughts vibrate and attract events in the same vibration state. By always

thinking positive and avoiding negative thoughts, you’re doing more than just changing yourself. You’re

changing your whole life. For more information about thought vibrations, check out the New Thought

Movement.

6. By Keeping Yourself Inspired

As soon as you unite yourself with any idea, desire, or intention, there is no force that can stop you other than

the limits that you set upon yourself. No wonder why Thomas Edison said you only need one percent

inspiration. It’s enough to balance the equation, and the equation ultimately states that you are capable of

almost anything you can imagine. You can get your inspiration from many sources, may it be an object, a
person, or a goal. Use your emotions to identify your most powerful source of inspiration. The one that gives

you the strongest positive feeling is your best bet.

7. By Using The Visualization Technique

The visualization method simply works by creating images in your mind of the things you desire most. Forming

clear and specific mental pictures activates the creative potential inherent in each and every human being.

When the creative process is triggered by visualization, your thought will pass three stages: intention, action,

and manifestation. I was thinking about using the wheel, the printing press, and the telephone as examples, but

many will find these too old fashioned. So, I guess you will be more comfortable imagining network systems,

the internet, search engines, Youtube, and social networks as modern age products of people who applied the

visualization technique. Apply the other twenty-nine principles in this article with visualization, and I’m

positive you’ll get what you’re wishing for sooner or later.

8. By Keeping Your Mind Still

Some ancient scriptures in eastern spiritual traditions emphasize that with steadfast concentration and

meditation, you can even achieve superhuman powers. Of course, you don’t believe that. You don’t believe in

the Christ figure, Gautama Buddha, or Mahatma Gandhi either. I think now is a perfect time for your reality

tunnel maintenance check.

There are many forces surrounding you that you don’t have the ability to explain. Let’s say, for example, you are

demonstrating how a holographic projector works to one of the oldest aboriginal tribes in Australia. As soon as

you turn the instrument on, those people will probably collapse in astonishment. The same thing will happen to

you once you encounter things that you are unable to explain (do I hear someone shouting UFOs?). For

hundreds of centuries, meditation has been practiced by countless people so they could have a deeper sense of

reality. If you want to find out how, you’ve just activated the first principle I described earlier. Quench your

thirst for knowledge by knowing more about meditation.

9. By Pushing Yourself To Your Limits

Have you ever asked yourself why people keep on trying to outdo their own feats on the Guinness World

Records? Why does an athlete aspire to be record holders in his or her sport? People aspire for a sense of
achievement. You have that feeling deep inside you as well, but you can only attain phenomenal success by

trying to push yourself a little harder every single day. They say that it only takes a month for any given activity

to become a habit. If you work for five days in a week and four weeks in a month, try accomplishing five percent

more work cumulatively for each day. At the end of the month, you will have doubled your ability to perform.

10. By Destroying (-) Habits and Creating (+) Qualities

It is such a pain to remove habits from our system. The reason is that we have acquired our habits in an

unconscious way. Removing them consciously is like trying to drink beer while you are sleeping. However, you

shouldn’t lose hope because there’s a solution to this predicament. Most likely, you have a person whom you

admire most. That person may be a renowned celebrity, historical figure, scientist, leader, and so on. List down

all the good qualities you see in that person and pretend having as many of those qualities every day for two

months. Pretending is giving the appearance of possessing the qualities on your list. Doing this will force your

mind to accept the qualities as habits. It’s like programming your own bio-computer. If you keep on applying

this principle, your negative habits will be replaced, eventually, by new and positive ones.

11. By Challenging The Superego

The problem with most people is that they lack the will to engage in activities that enable them to increase

productivity and strengthen their characters. The greatest enemy of your will is the superego – one of the three

divisions of the human psyche. It tells you what is right and wrong or what should be rewarded and punished. It

contains your values, beliefs, and all the rules that your parents and the society programmed inside your head

while you were growing up.

You start to experience freedom and will power by challenging the superego first. When you start to feel

something pulling you from something that you want to do, your superego is at work. You can either ignore it or

subject to its command. If you choose to ignore it, just make sure you remember this rule: “Do not impose your

will upon others.” You can do whatever you want as long as you don’t step on other people’s rights.

12. By Using the SWOT Analysis

Most people who give their advice on personal development will tell you to write down your strengths and

weaknesses and then leave you floating in mid-air. What’s the use of knowing your strengths and weaknesses if
you don’t know what to do with them? SWOT analysis is not only a method of identifying your strengths and

weaknesses; it is a method of approaching different elements in your life with a strategic approach. SWOT

stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is aimed at answering four basic questions:

How can you use and capitalize on your strengths? How can you eliminate your weaknesses? How can you take

advantage of your opportunities? And how can you remove threats?

Personal introspection once lacked structure and strategy. In this modern era, it is not enough that you just lie

down in bed every night and reflect on your day-to-day activities. It already involves some kind of work. You

have two choices in this world; one is to remain competitive and the other is to be in unity with everything and

everyone. If you choose the former, this method will serve you best. If you choose the latter, stay tuned for my

future articles.

YOURSELF WITH OTHERS

13. By Recognizing Patterns in Human Behavior

Human behavior is sometimes predictable and deterministic. We often recognize patterns of behavior and

respond accordingly. When you are talking to someone and you see the person’s eyebrows come close to each

other, you may assume the person is disagreeing to your statements. You will then realize there’s something

wrong with what you’re saying. Indeed, human behavior is complex and dynamic and involves a lot more than

just mere gestures. However, because it is a process, it doesn’t mean it cannot be studied and analyzed. Your

knowledge of other people’s behavior can give you an advantage. Just remember what I said earlier, “Do not

impose your will upon others.”

There are several reasons why it is useful to understand human behavior: it can improve your relationship with

your associates, you can persuade people to agree with your ideas effortlessly, you can easily spot liars and

honest men, and so on. Two of the various academic disciplines concerned with the study of human behavior

are sociology and behaviorism. If you don’t have time to do research on these subjects, you can subscribe to this
blog so I can do the work for you.

14. By Communicating Effectively

Written and spoken words are powerful tools you can use to transform an idea into its physical counterpart.

Communication, in my own terms, involves three levels: psycho-spiritual, interpersonal, and social. On the

psycho-spiritual level, you communicate with your inner self through the use of mantras, prayers, chants,

spells, autosuggestion and so on. On the interpersonal level, exchanges of ideas become apparent through the

proper use of language in speech and writing. Persuasion plays a major part on this level. On the social level,

mass communication takes the form of advertising, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, and many

others. Propaganda is commonly utilized to influence the behavior of a large number of people. I write about all

three. So, again, it’s a good reason for you and I to make a connection.

15. By Associating With Positive People

A quote from Hitopadesha states, “The mind is lowered through association with inferiors. With equals it

attains equality; and with superiors, superiority.” You can choose to be in the presence of one of the three

types of people mentioned in the statement. However, if you want to be highly effective, it’s quite obvious you

should prefer the last one. Associating with positive and smarter people not only gives you the chance to learn.

It also provides you the opportunity to acquire the same qualities and habits these people possess.

16. By Sticking To Your Principles

Your principles are the set of governing rules that guide you in your everyday life. People have gone through

many troubles defending their own principles. And to a greater extent, we see how opposing ideals struggle for

domination by means of war. Nations don’t mind fighting at great lengths trying to defend their principles, and

neither should you. However, people come in conflict with each other because their state of mind is focused on

competition. If your principles constitute non-violence and service to other people, you need not worry about

having to defend it from anyone. If you’re at peace with everyone, there’s a lot more room for personal growth.

17. By Concealing Your Intentions

As much as having a unique set of principles, people have their own intentions. There are two reasons why you
should conceal your intentions. The first reason is to avoid interference from people who don’t know what to do

with their own lives. You have the right to keep your thoughts, plans, goals, and ambitions to yourself. Other

people may not really understand what you’re up to and you don’t want to waste your time trying to explain

yourself to them. Avoid discussing personal concerns, family matters, financial problems, and other private

issues to anyone.

The second reason is to surround yourself with a sense of mystery to keep people intrigued and interested in

you. Notice how the media make efforts to invade the private lives of celebrities. When famous celebrities try to

hide themselves from public view, the effect is exactly the opposite of what they expect. They just get more

attention from the press.

18. By Protecting Your Reputation

Success carries with it the reputation of having wisdom. Once you make it big, people will flock to you because

they know you can outline the steps you took to reach the top of the ladder. A good reputation can do many

things. It can intimidate others, give you authority and credibility, keep your enemies away, and so on.

However, just like a delicate wine glass, it is fragile and can be easily destroyed. The richest wine on earth is

useless if you try to drink it with a broken wine glass. In the same sense, the greatest skill or talent you may

possess won’t mean a thing if you have a bad reputation.

19. By Seeking Advice

What do teachers, professors, coaches, mentors, and gurus all have in common? Hey, don’t get any impression

that this is a joke. The answer - all of them are older than you. Well, there may be instances when you encounter

the younger types, but ideally they should be older. Ok, perhaps we should consider a more appropriate term

like “experienced.” When seeking advice, make sure you’re asking someone who has already walked the path

you’re currently taking. Any kind of person will give some time off for someone who makes them feel

appreciated. Show them respect and they will give you all the advice you want to hear. Also, keep in mind that

their mistakes are as much as important to know as their accomplishments.

20. By Being Punctual

Punctuality is a form of etiquette as well as self-discipline. Being late in your appointments reflects disregard
for other people’s time. It is also a sign of disrespect. Cultivate the habit of being on-time and people will

appreciate you for having this quality. Being on-time doesn’t mean you should arrive thirty minutes ahead of

your schedule. If the traffic, environmental conditions, and family matters all happen to be in favor of you and

you arrive on the scene too early, you can simply take a walk. Just make sure to go back a few minutes ahead of

your appointment. It is also good to be prompt in returning calls, answering emails, and responding to text

messages. People today literally think that time is gold.

21. By Being a Good Listener

When you want to give people the impression that you are a good conversationalist, simply listen to them while

they do all the talking. This is one of the tricks I learned from a sales book I read a few years ago. Sales people

create rapport with their clients by asking questions. Naturally, the person being asked will start talking without

noticing they are unconsciously being led to buy a product. The keywords to remember on this item are:

conversation, listening, questions, and rapport. Add all these together and you have a powerful tool that will

allow you to create friends, build partnerships, find associates, establish connections, and so on.

YOURSELF WITH EVERYTHING ELSE

22. By Sleeping Less

Most people complain that they don’t have time for anything else other than work. Work should not be an

excuse for you to miss out the best things in life. However, if you really seem to lack the time, sleeping less

should give you additional hours during the day. Countless studies have been done to determine the right

amount of sleep for people of different ages. If you’re an adult, or if at least you think you are, the safest amount

of time your body needs to sleep is seven (7) hours. Seven hours of sleep plus nine hours of work will leave you

with eight hours to do anything else you want.

23. By Keeping the Objective in Mind

Sometimes, people focus too much on results that they forget about their objectives. If you provide products or

services and you only concentrate on the profit, sooner or later you will go out of business. Keep your objective

in mind and always stay on purpose. By making sure that you are doing the right thing, it is guaranteed that you

will get the results you’re after. Maintain a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the conditions that

affect your plans so that you can avoid setbacks. If there’s a problem, immediately find out the root cause and

make sure that you are in control of the situation. You can do so by introducing yourself to management

principles. Common sense will let you know that you don’t even need to own a company to apply management

principles. They are also applicable to personal life.

24. By Focusing on What Really Matters

Every act is either a success or a failure. It is the successful acts that makes you a more efficient and effective

person. If you always try to make your activities a success, you surely won't fail to achieve your ultimate goal in

life. Avoid unnecessary activities. Prioritize the stuff that needs the greatest amount of attention and which

matters to you most. Remember Aesop’s fable about the astronomer:

An astronomer used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs

with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed

his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had happened

said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on

earth?”

25. By Recording Your Progress

History repeats itself. This statement is like a pair of worn out jeans. Don’t you just love it? Here’s another one:

“If you always do what you’ve always done…” Guess who said that? Come to think of it, what these statements

imply is basically correct. If you can’t remember how much you’ve accomplished yesterday, how can you push

yourself to your limits today? Ok, now you can attach my name to the previous sentence so we can all have

someone new to quote. Just kidding!

Try keeping a daily record of your improvement. If you’re into sports or music, this is a must. If you’re just a
regular guy or gal, a diary should suffice. If you want to use your blog, go ahead. Just remember what I said

about concealing your intentions for that matter.

26. By Staying On Top of Things

Governments, both recent and old, make use of spies just to stay on top of things. In the same sense, what

enables highly effective individuals to move ahead of average people is foreknowledge. You’re not required to be

clairvoyant or anything to that effect. Scanning the newspaper, asking your colleagues for updates, reading

journals, and subscribing to blog feeds are just some of the things you can do to make sure you know what’s

going on in your field of expertise. However, with so much stuff happening everywhere and so many people

sharing their knowledge, there’s a tendency to experience information overload. The best way to avoid this is by

focusing on what really matters to you most as explained in item 24.

27. By Investing Your Money

In this day and age, personal growth inexorably involves the proper handling of your money through

investments. I don’t know who you are or what you do, but if you want to start earning more than what you are

currently receiving, start seeking other sources of income. It’s not wise to rely solely on your job. Employment is

just another form of slavery. If you want to get rich, remember these seven basic rules: save ten percent of your

monthly income, control your expenditures, select a good investment, guard your assets, make sure you own

your house, secure your future through multiple sources of income, and increase your ability to earn by

becoming highly effective. (Note: the last rule has nothing to do with keyword density)

28. By Taking Smart Risks

People who don’t succeed at anything are usually the ones who are afraid to get out of their comfort zones. The

primary reason is that they are afraid of the unknown. These people want to see results before they even start to

carry out their plans. Life is bounded with countless possibilities. Most of the time, you will need to rely on your

smart judgment in selecting the proper course of action.

If you can’t create calculated measures, then you will have to rely on your intuition. There are forces beyond

human comprehension that govern our lives. Usually, we become aware of these forces through the sixth sense.

Unfortunately, this facility remains dormant in the large majority of the population. A reiki practitioner once
told me that if your instinct offers you two choices, it is always advisable to select the first one.

29. By Organizing Your Extensions

The use of tools was an important step in the progress of the human race. Within a one meter radius, I’m quite

positive you will find at least one tool wherever you may be. Almost everything around you can be used for a

certain purpose. Once you make practical use of the objects surrounding you, these things become extensions of

your mind. Hence, it’s just as important to keep things in order as you try to keep your mind still.

An easy way to do this is by using the 5S Method. In business terms, the 5S is a method for organizing your

workplace. Applied personally, it helps you become more efficient and gives you a sense of self-discipline. The

5S’s are: sorting, straightening, sweeping, standardizing, and sustaining. If you want to become your own boss,

you better start being your own business consultant as well.

30. By Being The Solution

Your brain contains one hundred billion neurons. Each one of these neurons is capable of creating seven

thousand synaptic connections. Now, if you compare the internet to the electrochemical matrix found in your

brain, it means that your capacity to think is enormously powerful.

Chronic complainers, naysayers, and pessimists are, obviously, not aware of this fact. Honestly, they are more

pathetic than their issues. You shouldn’t aspire to be like these people. Create a reputation of being the

trendsetter in your community, your workplace, or even at home. Contribute solutions instead of making the

problem worse through meaningless grumble. Be the solution.

If you want to read more articles like this, please visit me at my website at:
http://virtualsynapses.blogspot.com