The Malta Independent 1 July 2025, Tuesday
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Edward DeBono Foundation Thinking corner: Determination

Malta Independent Tuesday, 6 September 2005, 00:00 Last update: about 21 years ago

What is common with the most successful personalities?

Do you think that they are just lucky or do you think that there could be something else behind their success?

If you had to observe them closely what would you notice?

Name of the thinking tool for this week:

Most Important Priorities

What is a FIP?

Some things are more important than others. Some consequences are more important than others. When you generate a number of ideas, you need to think about which ones are more important so that you can do something about them.

Why use FIP?

We use FIP because we should know exactly why we have chosen something as a priority.

The ideas not chosen as priorities must not be ignored. They too are considered – but after the priorities. This will make our goals easier to see and achieve.

Using the FIP we can become sensibly determined and become winners in turn!

Imagine that there is a competition or a tournament soon, but on the other hand school is also about to start! What are the important things for you? Make a list of the different priorities and then chose the two most important ones.

You can start working on those two preferences and then move on to the others.

Let’s work this example together

Tournament and School

Would like to take part

Would like to win

Need to train

Need to be ready for school

Have to try my best at school and concentrate

Plan my time very well

Find time to meet friends, study and train

My Top Priorities Are:

Taking part and Plan time well

Remember if you don’t do an FIP you may miss important factors like planning enough time for homework!

So what do you think? FIP is very easy to use!

With some thinking about what is most important, we can succeed at becoming more successful as we being determined to achieve our goals.

Now try another exercise. Choosing a New Friend. What characteristics would you like to find in this new friend?

What are the things to consider?

Now choose the most important ones

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