Beyond Experts
Close,covey is.
right, not quite.
This model implies that Knowledge is the most important part of Knowledge-Desire-Skills loop to create good habits. So why do people continue bad habits? Not robots, we are.
7 Habits Model - super complicated Consultaneese approach…
“Synergize?”
In Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he has a diagram of three circles – to represent that the combination of Knowledge, Skills and Desire creates new effective habits. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do much with this model. It’s introduced on pages 47 and 48 and then only mentions it once more in the book. His “7 Habits Model” is complex - written by a business consultant - and tries to motivate people with logic and knowledge. You desire something, now follow these steps to make it happen.
Knowledge and skills are conquered everyday by Feelings. You can’t vanquish a bad habits that you love. Hacked feelings make us continue bad habits. Our bad habits dampen the energy needed for good habits.
He’s not alone in missing the importance of feelings - love and hate.
Motivation experts focus on getting you excited to make changes. “You can do it! Let’s go! Charge!”
Health experts focus on increasing Knowledge. “Another study published on how addiction and overeating are bad…”
Habit experts focus on Actions. “If you do these 59 things every morning before 5 am, you’ll…”
Feelings, Knowledge and Actions - X, Y, and Z of Habits.
Feelings Dominate habits
X - Feelings, Y - Knowledge, Z - Actions
When it comes to good habits and bad habits:
Knowledge – It’s there if you want it. The books and studies available to you are immense. The internet and Amazon are the knowledge equivalent of a 5,000-acre library full of leather-bound books on rich mahogany shelves. The books are gathering dust, useless without your desire to learn and apply knowledge. Alone, without feelings, Knowledge isn’t worth much. We generally know which habits are “good” and “bad” - yet bad habits carry on, and good ones aren’t picked up.
Skills are tools that are rusting in the garage, useless unless you have the desire to pick them up and take Actions. Actions don’t lead. Actions follow feelings.
Feelings are everything. Control your feelings and you can control your habits. How you feel about something – will determine what knowledge you pursue and how you view new information. Feelings will enable you to take actions – try new things, add skills, and make changes - for better habits.
Change your feelings first and then use feelings, knowledge and actions to change habits.
Example: Bubba’s and Daycart’s feelings about Doritos and Apples
Bubba’s Habit Pattern for a TCU Food – Bag of Doritos:
Feelings – He loves that crunch, flavor boom, he wants them-now.
Knowledge - They Taste amazing and their Cheap. He knows how to buy bags of them.
Action – He buys them. He eats them - sometimes a whole bag when watching TV, surfing the web, or playing a game.
Daycart’s Habit Pattern for a TCU Food – Bag of Doritos:
Feelings – He dislikes poor health and deception. He won’t be tricked by fake flavors and happy ads.
Knowledge – Corporate food scientists have designed a Tasty flavor he likes (a hack) while using the Cheapest legal ingredients. It’s Unhealthy processed food.
Action – He doesn’t buy them. He doesn’t eat them.
Bubba’s Habit Pattern for a Healthy Food – an Apple:
Knowledge – He thinks they taste ok. Doesn’t think they are fun or exciting. He doesn’t like that they go bad. He’ll have to wash it, dry it and then slice it up because he doesn’t want to risk eating a brown spot or a bug.
Feelings – He dislikes the prep required. He prefers a fun exciting instant gratification party in a bag.
Action – More Doritos.
Daycart’s Habit Pattern for a healthy Food – an Apple:
Knowledge – He knows that the sweet taste is nature’s way to get animals to eat fruit, spread seeds. While apples have been selected over time for bigger size and sweeter taste, they retain micro nutrients and fiber.
Feelings – He loves that he can eat apples as a healthy sweet treat.
Action – He eats one every day at the end of his lunch.