“Stephen R. Covey (1932-2012) – A Leadership Legend” - Professor M.S.Rao

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.” - Benjamin Franklin

It is very sad to hear the passing away of Stephen R. Covey, the educator, author, consultant, and a leadership legend.  His death is shock to me, and I could not digest the news of his death. I read some of his famous books including ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’.  He is one of the rarest leadership legends who contributed immensely to the area of leadership development.  Here are some of his achievements:

• Earned his B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Utah.
• Earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
• Earned his PhD from Brigham Young University.
• Earned ten honorary doctorates.
• Received the Fatherhood Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative.

He wrote a number of books but it is the groundbreaking, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that drew global attention and brought him fame. It sold more than 25 million books in 38 languages globally. The book spent five years on the New York Times bestseller list and began a number of sequels, including his 2004 title, “The 8^th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness.”  He also authored, “The 3^rd Alternative” which was published in 2011. He pioneered “Principle-Centered Leadership” along with Ken Shelton, the editor of Leadership Excellence.  He was recognized in 1996 as one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, and was named among the world’s top 50 business thinkers in 2011 by Thinkers50, a group that compiles that list every other year.

I express my condolences on his death.  He is physically no more but his principles are timeless, and continue to inspire future generations.

“Life is a mission and not a career, and the purpose of all our education and knowledge is so that we can better represent Him and serve that mission of life in His name and toward His purposes.” – Stephen L. Richard, grandfather of Stephen R. Covey.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: msrlctrg@gmail.com 

Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    

Knowledge Grows When Shared

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

Copyright©2012 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“What do You Mean by Clarity?” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.” - Blaine Pascal

One day my elder son, Ganesh Sai asked me, “Dad! What do you mean by clarity?” I thought for a moment and asked him, “I think, you intend to author your fifth book on short stories!”  He replied, “Yes Dad.” And he added, “I have already prepared a blueprint to proceed forward.”  Then I asked him to prepare a plan of action with a timeline.  He worked out for an hour and came with an action plan and timeline. Then I said as follows:

When you want to write a book, you thought clearly in your mind and prepared the vision about the book, and then you wrote the tentative stories to be written with deadlines for each story.  This is nothing but clarity.  In fact, when you start to write down something, your mind thinks through, and works out a strategy thus clearing the clutter in your mind resulting in clarity in your mind.

In addition, I advised him to prepare his action and timeline into SMART goals where SMART is the acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, measurable and time bound.  Finally, he prepared his final draft adhering to SMART strategy.  I asked him whether it would be possible to execute it effectively.  He replied confidently, “Yes dad.  I can stick to the timelines and complete it on time.”  I was satisfied with his response and said, “This is clarity based on your SMART strategy.” And concluded with a cliché that a battle is won twice –first in your mind, and then in reality.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: msrlctrg@gmail.com 

Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    

Knowledge Grows When Shared

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

Copyright©2012 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.” - Blaine Pascal

One day my elder son, Ganesh Sai asked me, “Dad! What do you mean by clarity?” I thought for a moment and asked him, “I think, you intend to author your fifth book on short stories!”  He replied, “Yes Dad.” And he added, “I have already prepared a blueprint to proceed forward.”  Then I asked him to prepare a plan of action with a timeline.  He worked out for an hour and came with an action plan and timeline. Then I said as follows:

When you want to write a book, you thought clearly in your mind and prepared the vision about the book, and then you wrote the tentative stories to be written with deadlines for each story.  This is nothing but clarity.  In fact, when you start to write down something, your mind thinks through, and works out a strategy thus clearing the clutter in your mind resulting in clarity in your mind.

In addition, I advised him to prepare his action and timeline into SMART goals where SMART is the acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, measurable and time bound.  Finally, he prepared his final draft adhering to SMART strategy.  I asked him whether it would be possible to execute it effectively.  He replied confidently, “Yes dad.  I can stick to the timelines and complete it on time.”  I was satisfied with his response and said, “This is clarity based on your SMART strategy.” And concluded with a cliché that a battle is won twice –first in your mind, and then in reality.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: msrlctrg@gmail.com 

Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    

Knowledge Grows When Shared

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

Copyright©2012 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“Students must Become Trendsetters, not Trend Followers” - Professor M.S.Rao

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

The difference between trendsetters and trend followers is the the former know their strengths and weaknesses and focus on their strengths by correcting their weaknesses through practice while the trend followers are also aware of their strengths and weaknesses but they brood over their weaknesses ignoring their strengths.

When one door is opened the trendsetters look at the door that is opened while the trend followers often look at the door that is closed.  The difference between the trendsetters and trend followers is that their mindset, and their perception to the outside world.  In addition, trendsetters know how to channel their negative energies into positive ones thus achieving success quickly.

Students must look at the door that is opened.  They must focus on their strengths rather than getting excessively worried about their weaknesses to become trendsetters.  Remember it is only the trendsetters who can grow as leaders.  Hence, learn to look at the world with optimism to become a trendsetter and grow as a leader.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: msrlctrg@gmail.com 

Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    

Knowledge Grows When Shared

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

Copyright©2012 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com    This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.