CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

In Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, It highlights the two main areas where you can spend your energy. And according to Covey, highly effective people spend far more energy focusing on their Circle of Influence rather than on their Circle of Concern. The basic idea is that instead of spending a lot of energy thinking about and getting angry about things you don’t influence (like the weather, or the economy, or the environment), you spend your energy and time on things you do influence. It’s a pretty cool model to keep in mind. More often than not we spend our time in our circle of concern. We tend to concern ourselves with worries of how the economy should be without looking at how we can improve our own self made economy. we spend so much time complaining on how or why the weather is too hot or too cold, knowing fully well that its not man made but natural. You should focus your thoughts on how to prepare yourself in relation to the weather. If its too cold, you should wear the appropriate cloth by that way you achieve more and spend less time to achieve more. You cannot rule out looking at the circle of influence with regards to running a business. the larger your circle of influence the more you can drive your your business because you have more people you can sell to who will listen and buy from you with ease. Focusing on your circle of influence makes you a proactive person. Limiting you to things you can do something about. It helps you focus on the strength of other people. You should focus on been driven by values and not feelings. You should be able to anticipate, empathize and read situations. The proactive approach which is the core of the circle of influence is to change from the inside-out: to be different, to effect positive change in what is out there.