Bell Oil & Gas (BOG) recently held its end-of-year parties in Lagos and Port Harcourt, bringing together members of staff to celebrate a year of resilience, growth, and shared accomplishments. This year’s theme drew inspiration from Dr. Kayode Thomas’s reflections on Stephen Covey’s book – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, intertwining principles of effectiveness with personal and corporate growth stories.
Dr. Thomas’s address emphasized the importance of balancing effectiveness and efficiency; a concept illustrated by the P/PC ratio: the balance between producing desired results (P) and caring for what produces those results (PC). This lesson resonated deeply as he drew parallels between the challenges faced by BOG in 2023 and Okonkwo’s reflection in Chapter 3 of Things Fall Apart. Just as Okonkwo persevered through a harrowing harvest, BOG emerged strong and resilient from a challenging year, proving that faith and perseverance build a complete, unshakeable foundation which reflected in the year 2024.
Dr. Thomas explored Covey’s habits:
- Be Proactive
- Are you taking responsibility for your actions, or do you find yourself making excuses?
- Begin with the End in Mind
- This habit emphasizes the importance of planning ahead, being prepared, and considering how today’s choices affect tomorrow’s outcomes.
3. Put First Things First
- Do you prioritize essential tasks before indulging in leisure? Are you focused, or do distractions take precedence?
4. Think Win-Win
- Cultivating an attitude of mutual benefit fosters collaboration and shared success.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
- Listening empathetically strengthens relationships and builds trust.
6. Synergize
- Working together amplifies creativity and results in outcomes greater than individual contributions.
7. Sharpen the Saw
- Balancing and renewing your resources ensures sustained effectiveness over time.
As members of staff look toward the new year, the lessons from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People serve as a guiding light, inspiring all to approach 2025 with renewed focus, determination, and a commitment to excellence