Box of delight

As we go through our daily-by-day lives without a pause or a moment to think about what it is we are actually doing, it's easy to assume we are working as effectively as we can. It is important to take that pause and observe others in action. Are we working as effectively as our extremely successful peers?

Inspired by Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, take a look at the things very successful people do and see how their habits aid them in achieving their maximum effectiveness.

Want to become one of those highly effective people and no longer a bystander? Try these 7 habits and find your own success.

1. Be proactive

Nothing will ever get done if we do nothing but sit around waiting for things to happen. Effective people know that there is no value in overthinking, in spending more time on our words than our actions. The most powerful thing anyone can do is simply take the reins in their own hands to instigate movement.

2. See the end

While the process of action is undoubtedly important, sometimes the impetus for our most powerful, effective actions comes from knowing where the end lies. If we continue to keep that in mind, we'll be able to maximize our productivity to reach our highly desired, very rewarding end goal.

3. Prioritize

When embarking on a task with many steps, it can be tempting to stop something halfway through when the going gets tough. What we should do, however, is actually push through. The difficulty of an action shouldn't change that it's our priority.

4. Visualize

Effective people can always imagine a favorable outcome--even if one doesn't seem likely to be written in the books. When you feel bogged down, or your actions are simply not getting you where you want, practice visualization for a couple minutes. Visualize your goals and the steps you need to make to get you there.

5. Try to understand things beforehand

Often, people jump into things without properly reading the instructions--ultimately resulting in ineffective actions far from the results they had previously envisioned. Setting aside adequate time to sort through and plan can really benefit your end results.

6. Synergize

There is nothing more powerful than combining forces. Regardless of how competent we might be on our own, there is always greater strength in numbers. Synergize on everything you can--how much more effective you are may surprise you.

7. Renew and improve

Last, one of the most important habits of all is that of self-care. We need to allow ourselves the time and space--not just once in a blue moon, but a bit here and there every day--in order to mend our burnt-out ends. Make time to regenerate and you will find that you are better able to effectively achieve your personal best.