Give me a planner, every time

Matt Pearl

For several years now, I have witnessed a commitment on the part of King City Elementary School in teaching what they have come to know as The Seven Habits.

They have applied the doctrine of The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, as outlined in the book by the late Dr. Stephen Covey.

I won’t go through each of those habits with you; chances are that I don’t need to if you’ve been around a school applying the philosophy.

The basic gist is this: Productive people are planners and doers, and having both goals and a process in mind as one works can mean the difference between success and failure.

Ask anyone who works with me and they’ll tell you that efficiency is not my greatest strength.

I forget things, confuse things and certainly am no stranger to procrastinating.

I don’t mean that behavior is the best way for me, or anyone, to be.

I mean that these young folks learning the Seven Habits might just have something valuable to teach me.

That thrills me.

Why? Because as long as young people are coming along who have plans, goals and motivation to make the most of life, then I can rest assured that our world will improve.

I can find no fault with teaching youngsters the need to be responsible with their loved ones, their time, their planning, their lives and their money. It might just be the key to preserving everything that is good and right in this country, and our greatest defense against the dangers that threaten our way of life.

It comes down to an age-old maxim about parenting that I truly believe: We should work to make sure our children grow up to be better people than we are.

The most efficient way to improve the plight of the human race is for its residents to do a better job instructing future generations on how to prioritize this life.

A well known salesman used to say that every man, rich or poor, has 24 hours in a day: it’s what we choose to do with them that defines us.

That’s so true.

When young people have instilled in them the concept that time is precious, they will (with maturity) treat their hours and minutes with greater care. If we bring up a generation of doers, then the jobs that need to be done will be addressed.

If we bring up a generation that believes our nation is beyond repair, the members of said generation will not even bother to pick up their hammers.

What is a highly successful person?

Dr. Covey had his own definition, and I believe mine is fairly close to his.

A person who has succeeded seems to be an individual who is industrious, productive and goal-oriented.

Which builder would you hire:

The one who had the better plan, or the one who had more bricks?

Any fool can come up with bricks and mortar, but a person with a smart plan knows how he’s going to put the project together.

I do not know what our future holds, but I do see from the lessons history teaches that every generation has its great labor, the work it must complete that defines its people and times.

I also cannot speak for anyone besides myself, but I enjoy the thought of a future held in the hands of planners.