Wk 11

Three important points from the reading include the ability to manage one’s self, the differentiation between personality and character ethics, and the composition of a habit, which is essential to both self-management and employing character ethics over simply potentially manipulative personality ones.  Managing one’s self, out of the scope of retirement, involves finding a compliment to one’s daily life in order to maintain a sense of relevance and belonging.  If the mind is that which drives the rest of the body, it is to be kept sharp so that the life of the individual may be as fulfilling as possible. This principle applies even before the second half of life, as Drucker quotes it. 

Another notable point, and perhaps the most essential, is the necessary differentiation between personality and character ethics.  Covey suggests that much of the popular readings in society over the past 50 years have been concerned with the conquering of solely personality ethics, which are but mere tactics for temporary personal gain instead of lasting tools.  The first 150 years of the last 200 were indeed concerned with the development of positive character traits, elements that are firm and opaque.  As Covey writes, it’s more so about the ability to change how we view things rather than that which we view, as he illustrates with the example of his wife and how they treated their son.  The ability to be introspective versus buying a quick fix is the key to fixing problems with ourselves and with others.   In relation to the first point, it is impossible to learn to manage one’s self relative to a world full of others without first acknowledging the proper character ethics. 

Finally, one cannot expect to build any kind of self-management strategy or even make a change to focus more on his or her character ethics without establishing a healthy habit for doing so.  According to Covey, a habit is the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire to do something.  Building or rebuilding oneself is a long term process that will require a habit (and not a quick fix- again, a common theme amongst late popular readings) to ensure proper and adequate results. 

 

These points connect not only to the discussion from the week but also the studies we’ve been progressing through during the entire semester.  The point of differentiating between personality and character ethics brings to mind the Carnegie reading, which did indeed seem like was written by a college mascot more so than a seasoned psychologist.  As a reading that falls into the category of being published within the past 50 years that emphasizes getting around people for a sole purpose instead of getting around one’s self for the sake of one’s self. 

Also, these points are applicable to my own life because I sense a continual struggle to master each of the three.  I am constantly searching for the appropriate activity to balance out my future career and be more than prepared for the second half of my life when it arrives.  I hope to have no gaping rifts in any two phases so that the transition will be smooth and adaptable to whatever circumstances may be presented.  I’ve always believed that interaction with other people starts with my own self, so I actually did find it weird that there would be a whole book dedicated to what is essentially managing and often semi-manipulating other people.  Given that this is a quick fix, it’s easy to see why the book has sold well.   Finally, I try to accomplish anything relevant within myself by creating a habit, something that I can rely on as second nature and do without deliberate decisions.  I often struggle not with the knowledge or skill (as those are usually provided readily), but by the desire; perhaps I am not convince of the need to create the habit or shy away from the effort required.