7 Habits of Highly Effective People [Book Review]

Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been on the best-seller list for many years now. Covey is the co-founder of the Franklin Covey company, dedicated to enabling greatness in people and organisations.

Think about this for starters ...

Who am I?

I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things I do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great individuals and alas, of all failures, as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin – it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I AM HABIT

Yes, habits are very powerful forces in our lives. In Covey's book, he presents seven habits of effectiveness.

Here they are:

Habit 1 - Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your life (Principles of Personal Vision). Don't react or blame all your problems on other people (parents, teachers, boss, friends, government). Don't be a victim who takes no responsibility for their life.

Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind: Define your mission and goals in life (Principles of Personal Leadership). Don't just live for moment.

Habit 3 - Put First things First: Prioritise, and do the most important things first (Principles of Personal Management).

Habit 4 - Think Win/Win: Have an ‘everyone-can-win’ attitude (Principles of Interpersonal Relationships). Don't see life as competition where if someone else wins, you lose.

Habit 5 - Seek first to understand, then be understood: Listen to people sincerely (Principles of Empathetic Communication). Don't seek first to talk, then pretend to listen.

Habit 6 – Synergise: Work together to achieve more (Principles of Creative Cooperation). Don't be your own island, refusing to co-operate with other people because they’re different from you.

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw: Renew yourself regularly (Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal). Don't wear yourself out, never studying or learning because you are so busy with your life.

What habit do you need to work on this week?

Comments

[Ross]

Interesting blog. I've visited your church a couple of times. Despite his being a Mormon, Covey has some valid things to say about motivation and self-discipline.