Habit one discusses being proactive versus reactive. It notes that proactive people take responsibility for their choices, think before acting, and focus on things they can control, while reactive people are easily offended, blame others, and wait for things to happen to them. The document advises becoming an agent of change by turning setbacks into triumphs, rising above abuse, and becoming a "can do" person focused on responding productively when things happen.

1. Habit one-Be Proactive
1. proactive or reactive-the choice is yours
2. listen to your language
a. proactive-I can do it, I can do better than that, let’s look at all of the options, I choose to, there’s
got to be a way, I’m not going to let your bad mood rub off on me
b. reactive-I’ll try, that’s just the way I am, there’s nothing I can do, I have to, I can’t, you ruined
my day
3. don’t be a victim
a. reactive people are
i. easily offended
ii. blame others
iii. get angry and say things they later regret
iv. whine and complain
v. wait for things to happen to them
vi. change only when they have to
b. proactive people are
i. not easily offended
ii. take responsibility for their choices
iii. think before they act
iv. bounce back when bad things happen
v. always find a way to make it happen
vi. focus on things they can do something about and don’t worry about things they can’t
change
4. We can only worry about one thing-how we respond when things happen
5. Turn setbacks into triumphs
6. rise above abuse
7. become an agent of change
8. become a can do person
9. just push pause