High School East has adopted The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens to help our students best the best versions of themselves and improve their own personal outcomes. Check out the habits below to familiarize yourself with these important personal management strategies!

Be Proactive:The Habit of Personal Responsibility 

When we are proactive, we are responsible for our own life and the choices we make. We understand that we have the freedom to choose based on principles rather than on moods or conditions. To be proactive means to plan for and adapt to all aspects of life—positive and negative—no matter how or when they occur. Reactive leaders and reactive people are constantly involved in a game of catch-up with life. Rather than planning for the ups and downs of everyday existence, they simply react to them with varying degrees of success or failure. Proactivity is a balance between planning for what you can control and accepting and adapting to what you can’t control.

To Be Proactive: 

1. Pause and respond based on principles and desired results.

2. Use proactive language. 

3. Focus on your Circle of Influence.

4. Model positive behaviors and pass on effective habits to build others.


Purpose- Filled Living: Begin With the End in Mind


To Begin With the End in Mind means to start every endeavor with clearly defined outcomes. This relies on our ability to envision, see potential, and create with our mind what we cannot presently see with our eyes. First we must define the outcomes before we act.  All things are created twice. There’s a mental, or first, creation; and a physical, or second, creation. By defining outcomes before we act, we ensure our efforts are truly effective. Define the desired outcomes that will tell you whether or not you have succeeded. What does the final result look like? How will it feel to you and others?   Next we can create and live by a personal mission statement.   A personal mission statement is the end in mind for our life. It enables us to shape our own future, instead of letting it be shaped by other people or circumstances.  People naturally want to know they are persons of worth with meaningful purposes in life. Highly effective people proactively design purpose into each day.

Always use the SMART guidelines when setting a goal:


Specific – What exactly do I want to happen?

Measurable – How will I know when I am reaching my goal?

Actionable – What actions will I take to achieve my goal?

Realistic – Why is my goal important and what plan will I follow to reach it?

Timely – When will I reach my goal?


Put First Things First: The Habit of Personal Management  


Put First Things First is at the heart of effective self-management. It’s the ability to organize our time around the most important things. 

1. Focus on your highest priorities. 

2. Eliminate the unimportant. 

3. Plan every week.

4. Stay true in the moment of choice  

Highly-effective people focus on their highest priorities because they spend more time on Quadrant 2 activities that are important but not urgent. 



Identify Q3 and Q4 activities in your typical day or week. Then ask yourself: 

• How can I reduce or eliminate chronic Q3 activities? 

• How can I eliminate chronic Q4 activities?


Weekly planning is essential to effectiveness. It keeps you from losing sight of what is important, and prevents you from being overwhelmed by the unimportant and urgent. In weekly planning, set aside 20–30 minutes to: 

• Connect with your mission, roles, and goals. 

• Schedule the Big Rocks by asking yourself, “What are the one or two most important things I can do in this role this week?” 

• Organize the rest. Schedule your other tasks, appointments, and activities around your Big Rocks.

Effective people align their choices with their mission, roles, and goals, and don’t give in to the pressures of the moment. 

• What pressures pull you away from your Q2 priorities? 

• What can you do next time to stay focused on your priorities and not give in to these pressures?




Think Win-Win: The Habit of Mutual Benefit


Four Relationship Paradigms

"Yes Person" Being a doormat and always avoiding and surrendering to others and putting yourself LAST

Can lead to Resent, Stress, and Anxiety

When is it OK? - When something isn't a huge deal to you but is to someone you care about. Knowing when requires a firm sense of self

Sabotaging others because you can't get your way and making everyone else miserable because you are "If I can't get my way, neither will you!"

When is it OK? - Never.

You get what you want while the other person doesn't - "I don't care who I hurt as long as I get my way" 

It can lead to damaged relationships, being seen as the bully in relationships, selfishness, hurt feelings

When is it OK? - Sports; Doing something for a parent or teacher without immediate benefit.

To think Win-Win requires maturity and leadership "Let's find a solution that works for everyone" 

Develops your Humanity

No one gets anywhere alone. Whether you think they do or not. Even the rich and famous knew SOMEONE to give them a leg up. This is why relationships and networking matter.

Recognizes Humanity of Others

Guess what? The world doesn't revolve around you. Everyone is here in the same storm. We all have different needs, goals, and desires and we can reach them faster together.

Requires Long Term Thinking (The End Goal)

Understanding the long term goal will allow you to see how compromise can get you there faster.

Being Assertive (Sticking up for yourself ISN'T mean)

Being able to state what you want firmly and without apology or excuse but also consider others. Know your values and don't compromise on them.

So How do I Think Win - Win?

When you have an Abundance Mentality you are not threatened by others success' because you are secure in your own self worth. You know there will be enough "pie" for everyone.

If you want to develop an Abundance Mentality:

Be Courageous                                                                                           Be Considerate

-Talk Straight                                                                                               -Demonstrate Respect

-Share your ideas and opinions with confidence                                 -Don't Interrupt

-Welcome and listen to honest feedback from others                        -Acknowledge other people's ideas and opinions

                                                                                                                       -Make sure everyone has a chance to speak and be heard

Choose a relationship or situation that could benefit from Win-Win thinking. This person could be a work associate, family member, business partner, or manager. Then, take time to identify the other person's Wins as well as your own by asking yourself the following questions:

          What would make this a win for me?                              AND                     What would make this a win for the other person?


When you are building Win-Win relationships, decide whether you want to make a formal or informal agreement with the other person. Do you need a verbal agreement or a written agreement? Schedule a conversation where you can discuss and commit to the Win-Win agreement together.