Introduction Key ideas
Change: Inside Out For most people, change is an easy thing as their perception of change is anchored on the superficial so they are prone to easy fixes. Quick fixes, however, do not address the underlying chronic problems. People who want to change a situation must first change themselves. And to change themselves effectively, they must first change their perceptions, inner-values and ethics Character vs. Personality Ethics Character ethics illustrate the struggles of a person to incorporate principles and habits into his lifestyle. Character is perceived to comprise the deeper principles and foundations of success such as: courage, integrity, justice, and patience. This ethic professes that certain principles, once integrated in the basic character of a person, will allow him to experience the true essence of success and happiness. Personality ethic largely characterized the literature on self-improvement, psychology and personality development in the 1970's. This ethic attributes success to various personality traits such as skills, techniques, and maintaining a positive attitude in human interaction. Power of a Paradigm Paradigms are theoretical and philosophical framework or models that serve as the lens through which people see the world. It affects a person's biases and prejudices. Paradigms are the platform from which people judge other people. They are the source of people's perceptions and interpretations. Stephen Covey talks about paradigm in terms of a map. Paradigms are maps where territories are outlined and boundaries are drawn. A map is not the territory per se but to be able to navigate through a territory one must employ the human tools of behavior and attitude. A person may have the right attitude to go about a territory, but if the person is using the wrong map, then he may not get anywhere near his goal. As long as a person is equipped with the right map, and coupled with proper behavior and right attitude, the goal will always be attained even when frustrating conditions arise. The Paradigm Shift A paradigm is also subject to change and when this happens, a paradigm shift takes place. It happens because a person gains better insight and sees the bigger scheme of things. A necessary pre-requisite for a paradigm shift is an open mind and a willingness to understand and explore new things, meanings, and symbols in the light of advancement and changing circumstances. A New Level of Thinking To find creative solutions to problems, one must have a higher level of thinking and acknowledge the fact that fundamental problems cannot be solved at a superficial level or with quick fix solutions. This book espouses a new level of thinking that is principle-centered and character based with an "inside-out" approach to gaining effectiveness at both the personal and interpersonal level. | 
