Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a best-selling personal growth book. The book is designed to help readers learn to be more effective in their own lives, their relationships and their careers. It was first published many years ago but the lessons are still applicable today. This book is unique in that it does not contain shortcuts for having instant success, but rather it concentrates on building a person's character and attitude.
The central theme of the book is that success is found within someone, and it begins there. As Covey says, many people devote too much time to adjusting external conditions without realising that they are affected by their internal conditions such as their habits and attitudes. He feels that positive change can come through changing the way that we think and act. While reading the book, I noticed that there are many problems people encounter that relate to their habits. This really got me thinking about some things in my life that I need to be more disciplined and intentional with.
The first habit is: Be Proactive. Covey believes that we should accept responsibility for our decisions rather than faulting other people or situations. Good people concentrate on what they can control instead of what they can't. This lesson was very motivating for me as it reminds us when we have a situation that we can always choose how to respond to it. But when we are thinking, “I can't do it,” we should think, “What can I do to improve this situation?”
The second habit is: “Begin with the End in Mind.” This habit helps readers to have a vision of what they want to be in life. Covey recommends to consider who you would like to be, and then make decisions that will lead to that. This chapter for me was about the power of direction. If you don't have a clear goal, you can go on and on drifting and never make any progress.
The third habit is "Put First Things First. In this, Covey is on a quest to teach the reader how to focus on what matters most and put out the lesser fires. He teaches that a lot of people waste a lot of time on things that aren't doing anything to help them towards their long term goals. Today is particularly applicable as social media, entertainment and distraction can take up so much time. The book is designed to remind readers to concentrate on the things that are important.
The next three habits deal with relationships with others. The "Think Win-Win" concept is the fourth habit that teaches that success isn't an zero sum game. Covey wants people to seek out solutions that benefit everyone. Habit five, "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood," highlights the importance of listening before speaking. This was one of my favorite lessons because too many conflicts occur when people fail to listen and understand. The sixth habit is "Synergize", a reminder of the importance of team work and cooperation. Covey demonstrates how when people work together they can accomplish more than they can when working individually.
The last habit is "Sharpen the Saw. This habit is all about continuous self-improvement. Covey invites readers to renew themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He says that much like a saw that is dull without maintenance, people are not as effective when they don't take care of themselves. This message was a welcome one, and it's a reminder that success is not something to be celebrated once and for all, it's a process.
Some quotes in the book that resonated with me were: “The key is not to schedule what you want to do, but to schedule your priorities.” One of the book's most important take-home messages is encapsulated in this simple statement. It reminds us we have to live from our priorities and not our daily actions.
The language of the book is easy to understand, useful and straightforward. Covey's ideas are illustrated with real-life examples, stories and illustrations. The lessons are presented in such a way that most readers can understand and apply them, although some chapters are detailed and require careful reading. The book is not a guarantee of instant success. Instead, it helps to develop one's personality slowly with the continuance of habits.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an inspirational and life-changing book that provides timeless lessons for both personal and professional success. It guides readers to take responsibility, to set meaningful goals, to cultivate and sustain strong relationships and to continue developing throughout their lives. I am sure this book will help any student, professional, leader, or anyone desiring to be a better person. If you're searching for a book that will help you build positive habits and improve your life, this is absolutely a book that you should read. The lessons are easy, effective and inspiring and can make a long-term difference when followed through.
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