In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity--principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
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Amazon.com Review
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change was a groundbreaker when it was first published in 1990, and it continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. His anecdotes are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges. Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more. This isn't a quick-tips-start-tomorrow kind of book. The concepts are sometimes intricate, and you'll want to study this book, not skim it. When you finish, you'll probably have Post-it notes or hand-written annotations in every chapter, and you'll feel like you've taken a powerful seminar by Covey. --Joan Price
Review
Dun's Business Month When Stephen Covey talks, executives listen.
M. Scott Peck author of The Road Less Traveled The 7 Habits have the gift of being simple without being simplistic.
M. Scott Peck author of The Road Less Traveled The 7 Habits have the gift of being simple without being simplistic.
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414 of 440 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the title of the book implies, Covey describes the seven habits of highly effective people and techniques for adopting the seven habits. Covey makes clear that an individual must make a paradigm shift before incorporating these habits into his/her own personal life. A paradigm is essentially the way an individual perceives something. Covey emphasizes that if we want to make a change in our lives, we should probably first focus on our personal attitudes and behaviors. He applies different examples via family, business, and society in general.
This book's focal point is on an approach to obtain personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Covey points out that private victories precede public victories. He makes the example that making and keeping promises to ourselves comes before making and keeping promises to others.
Habits 1, 2, and 3 deal with self-mastery. They move an individual from dependency on others to independence. Habits 4, 5, and 6 deal with teamwork, cooperation, and communication. These habits deal with transforming a person from dependency to independence to interdependence. Interdependence simply means mutual dependence. Habit 7 embodies all of the other habits to help an individual work toward continuous improvement.
Habit 1 discusses the importance of being proactive. Covey states that we are responsible for our own lives; therefore, we possess the initiative to make things happen. He also points out that proactive people so not blame various circumstances for their behaviors but they realize behavior comes from one's conscious. Covey also explains that the other type of person is reactive. Reactive people are affected by their social as well as physical surroundings. This means that if the weather is bad, then it affects their behavior such as their attitude and performance.
He also explains that all problems that are experienced by individuals fall into one of three categories, which are direct control, indirect control, or no control. The problems that are classified under direct control are the problems that involve our own behavior. The problems classified as indirect control encompasses problems that we can do nothing about. The problems classified as no control are those that we can do nothing about.
Habit 2 focuses on beginning with the end in mind. Covey wants the reader to envision his/her funeral. This may sound disheartening but his goal is to help you think about the words that you wish to be said about you; it can help the individual visualize what you value the most. To begin with the end simply means to start with your destination in mind. That gives an individual a sense of where he/she presently is in their life. One has to know where they are going to make sure that they are headed in the right direction. Covey also mentions that the most effective way to begin with the end is by developing a personal mission statement. After doing that, you should identify your center of attention. Are you spouse centered, money centered, family centered, etc. The he tells you depending on you core of interest, your foundation for security, guidance, and power.
Habit 3 is the practical fulfillment of Habits 1 and 2. Covey accentuates that Habits 1 and 2 are prerequisite to Habit 3. He states that an individual cannot become principle centered developing their own proactive nature; or without being aware of your paradigms; or the capability of envisioning the contribution that is yours to make. One must have an independent will. This is the ability to make decisions and to act in accordance with them.
Habit 4 deals with the six paradigms of interaction, which are win/win, win/lose, lose/win, lose/lose, win, and win/win or no deal. Win/win is a situation in which everyone benefits something. It is not your way or my way; it is a better way. Win/lose declares that if I win then you lose. Simply put, I get my way; you don't get yours. Win/lose people usually use position, power, possessions, or personality to get their way. The win/lose type of person is the person that feels that if I lose; you win. People who feel this way are usually easy to please and find the strength of others intimidating. When two win/lose people get together both will lose resulting in a lose/lose situation. Both will try to get the upper end of the stick but in the end, neither gets anything. The person that simply thinks to win secures their own ends and leaves it up to others to secure theirs. The win/win or no deal person means that if there is not a suitable solution met that satisfies both parties then there is no agreement.
Habit 5 deals with seeking means of effective communication. This habit deals with seeking first to understand. However, we usually seek first to be understood. Most people to not listen with the intent to understand but with the intent to reply. The act of listening to understand is referred to as empathic listening. That means you try to get into the person's frame of mind and think as they are thinking.
Habit 6 discuses combining all of the other habits to prepare us for the habit of synergy. Synergy means that the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Possessing all of the habits will benefit an individual more than possessing one or two of them. Synergism in communication allows you to open your mind to new possibilities or new options.
Habit 7 involves surrounds the other habits because it is the habit that makes all of the others possible. It is amplifying the greatest asset you have which is yourself. It is renewing your physical, emotional, mental, and social nature. The physical scope involves caring for yourself effectively. Spiritual renewal will take more time. Our mental development comes through formal education. Quality literature in our field of study as well as other fields help to broaden our paradigms. Renewing the social dimension is not as time consuming as the others. We can start by our everyday interactions with people.
Moving along the upward spiral requires us to continuously learn, commit, and do on higher planes. This is essential to keep progressing. At the end of each habit, there are application suggestions or exercises that help you become a more effective person. This is definitely not a quick fix it book. The concepts should be studied in order to be fully achieved. I think if you learn to use these 7 habits, it will change your life.
This is a must-have book.
440 of 495 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book is not bad. It's got some good advice, and if you live your life by the "Seven Habits," then you're going to come out better than if you didn't live by them. But it's my opinion that Covey has made something quite simple quite complex. In other words, I believe that most of the "Seven Habits" are nothing profound: treat others like you would like to be treated), be goal-oriented, manage your time wisely, seek the wisdom and insight of others, be slow to speak and quick to listen - nothing new here. The problem is that Covey tends to intellectualize these concepts to the point that many readers may find it difficult to understand what he's talking about at times. And, those that do understand will become frustrated that he takes a whole lot of pages to say something that could have been dealt with in fairly short order.
66 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the greatest books ever written to help people like me find their way in the world. Before this book, I read lots of self-improvement books, but none of them inspired lasting change. This book makes sense and helped me tie all the information I had gathered together and made it stick. I have read all of Dr. Covey's books and follow his recommendations as much as possible. First Things First, another book by Dr. Covey, gave me control of my priorities and stopped my life-long habit of procrastination. A few weeks ago, I learned that Dr. Covey had recommended Optimal Thinking-How to be your Best Self, so I read it. Optimal Thinking cured me of all the confusion I had about positive thinking. I learned how to put best self in charge of my life, and ask the best questions to find the best solutions. I could not have committed to a principle-driven life if Dr. Covey had not shown me the way.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
7.
Thanks for the fast shipping. I think this is a great learning experience for anyone! Easy to understand and able to be put into effect instantly.
Published 9 days ago by Dan
Evaluate your paradigms
My self development journey started about half a year ago when I was fed up with an inability to cope with autism in my personal life, and saw in my workplaces the great importance... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Colby D. Renfro
"Eat To Live by Joel Fuhrman, MD
I have used this method of weight loss and have lost 185 pounds over the last few years. I was an inslin dependent diabetic with congestive heart failure, gout, osteo arthritis. Read more
Published 11 days ago by loye
Stupid Book!
Did not like this book. I feel it is poorly written and very hard to understand. It was required reading for a course I was taking in culinary school. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Bob Spencer
Need more ways to comment.
If you are having time-management problems, this book will definitely help you. The rest of it...meh. If you are having problems with people not liking you, read Dale Carnegie. Read more
Published 15 days ago by JT
Overly complicating simple ideas.
I have found the book hard to read because of how he explains each habit in soo many more pages than he needs too. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Carl
Possibly the only book you will ever need
Possibly one of the best books ever written on improving life and career. His ideas on `centredness` is an eye opener. Read more
Published 20 days ago by G. T. Vadakkel
Good quality, very help[ful workbook
This is a workbook for the book by the same title, while I have not finished yet it is helpful to integrate the book knowledge with daily life, and apply it.
Published 28 days ago by David
Great book for improving your life!
Had to read this book for school, and found that it was actually interesting as well as informative. I followed Coveys 7 Habit and have seen results. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stix
Brilliant
I won't say this book changed my life. I will say, however, that despite the fact that I loathe most self-help pop-psychology crapola, upon finishing it, I immediately bought this... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Matthew M. Howell
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The world has changed dramatically since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was first published. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
character ethic, abundance mentality, scarcity mentality, harmony with correct principles, gofer delegation, stewardship delegation, unique human endowments, weekly organizing, effective interdependence, psychological air, interdependent reality, intrinsic security, personality ethic, maturity continuum, proactive people, reactive people, social mirror, personal mission statement, application suggestions, sharpen the saw, private victory, interpersonal leadership Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Circle of Influence, Emotional Bank Account, Circle of Concern, Public Victory, Star Wars, Viktor Frankl, Anwar Sadat, Daily Private Victory, Jedi Knight, Harvard Business School Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The world has changed dramatically since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was first published. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
character ethic, abundance mentality, scarcity mentality, harmony with correct principles, gofer delegation, stewardship delegation, unique human endowments, weekly organizing, effective interdependence, psychological air, interdependent reality, intrinsic security, personality ethic, maturity continuum, proactive people, reactive people, social mirror, personal mission statement, application suggestions, sharpen the saw, private victory, interpersonal leadership Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Circle of Influence, Emotional Bank Account, Circle of Concern, Public Victory, Star Wars, Viktor Frankl, Anwar Sadat, Daily Private Victory, Jedi Knight, Harvard Business School Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
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