Wisdom -Inteligence - Habits

 

 

Wisdom – Intelligence – Habits

 

Blessed is the person that our creator endowed with intelligence, to choose Biblical wisdom, and seeks to control and improve his character forming Habits.

 

The Habit Poem

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.
Plus, the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?

I am a HABIT!

Proverbs 4 serves as the foundation for achieving success based on the wisdom that is proclaimed. By combining this acquired wisdom with good habits, one can expect success beyond measure.

 

During the peak of my teaching career at MBI, I was constantly on the lookout for material that could support my teachings. At that time, a renowned guru named Stephen Covey was widely recognized. In his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” he divided his teachings into seven parts.

 

His first message emphasized the importance of being proactive. I interpreted this to mean that nature has endowed humans with two ends: one for action and the other for thinking. The key to success lies in the one that we utilize most effectively.

 

His second message was, “Begin with the end in mind.”  My grandson’s Peter and Jacob have grasped this concept at a very young age, demonstrating a remarkable ability to understand their future aspirations. That’s commendable.

 

His third message was the most important identify what needs to be done. This concept became clear to me during a project management class. The teacher had us identify all the steps involved in building something and write them on sticky notes. Once we couldn’t think of any more steps, we arranged the sticky notes on the blackboard in the order of their assembly.

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His fourth message, “Think Win-Win,” wasn’t entirely clear to me initially. I realized that if I wanted people to work for me, I had to do more than just boss them around. It had to be profitable for my employees as well. I not only have to listen to the radio station WIIIFM (what’s in it for me), but also to their station WIIIFT (what’s in it for them).

 

His fifth message, “Seek first to understand, then be understood,” was a lesson I learned the hard way. In 1959, I started working at Oltman Construction in Monetary Park, California. I was assigned to a kind and elderly fellow who had immigrated from Holland. His job was to maintain the construction equipment. However, in my eagerness, I found fault with everything he did and insisted on doing it my way. This lasted for about two or three days until he finally lost his temper. He grabbed a 2x4 and came after me, saying, “Look, you snub-nosed kid, this is my shop. Here, you do as you are told or get out.” I stayed because I needed the job.

 

His sixth message was “Synergize.” It refers to the ability to adapt to the job or company you choose to work for and wholeheartedly give it your best.

 

 His last and final message Sharpen the Saw was his last and final message, holds immense authority for me. From the moment I stepped off the boat as a young 18-year-old in New York in 1956, my life was dedicated to continuous learning. Initially, it was the language that consumed my attention, followed by countless classes during my working years. In the 1990s, I became friends with a fellow named Toni Parise, a medical doctor who was then the head of the Illinois School of Medicine in Peoria, Illinois. Toni imparted to me the most effective way to learn—is by teaching. Remarkably, this principle remains relevant even as we age. The knowledge I’ve acquired since my 80^th birthday is invaluable.  But I also know there is lots that I don’t know.

 

Different words, same message that GOD has given to mankind in Proverbs 4. Wisdom.  Read through it slowly and easy and let the holy spirit soak it into you.

 

Wanting to develop Good Habits depends entirely on an individuals effort.  It cannot be achieved with an app on your cell phone.

 

 

May 2026