It has been months since I volunteered to be a core group member for the 7 Habits on the Inside program at the camp. We had an initial meeting with our instructors and then…nothing. During those months, the guys and I liked to make jokes at the expense of the staff about their clear lack of understanding of how to practice Habit 1: Be Proactive. At Thomson, when it comes to jobs not getting done, there is always an excuse and it’s always someone else’s fault.
Then it occurred to me that I wasn’t exactly practicing Habit 1 either. Complaining and talking trash about others is not being proactive. And given that I know the 7 Habits material changes lives, I was falling short on my commitment to personal accountability, which includes showing up and being of service to others. My principles demanded that I take action.
I went to my buddy Dre, who is a certified facilitator of the program and suggested that we gather up interested guys from the class roster to have our own discussion group until the official program begin (if it ever does). He was on board. We asked around. Some guys were into it and others didn’t want to do anything unless there was BOP credit involved. That is unfortunate institutionalized thinking, but all we can do is make the opportunity available. Preparing for success through growth is not for everyone.
We held our kick-off meeting and our group has seven members. We shared about our familiarity with the 7 Habits material and how we were first introduced to it. There was a wide range of experience with Dr. Covey’s teachings going all the way back to the early 1990s. Enthusiasm for achieving personal development by studying the book together was universal. Everyone left the meeting energized and happy to be practicing Habit 1.
We plan to read and discuss one chapter per week. One of the guys approached me after the meeting and said, “I feel like I’m outgunned.” I assured him that the variety in our backgrounds and perspectives was a strength of the group, and that I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to share. You never know what powerful insights will come from seeing something old through fresh eyes.
As I intended to do with the official class, I will report highlights from our discussions. Even though some of them are under-educated, these are smart men. Their perspectives have value beyond the prison walls.
Onward we go with DIY 7 Habits. I believe that Dr. Covey would be proud.
