The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, is a self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey. It has sold over 15 million copies in 38 languages since first publication, which was marked by the release of a 15th anniversary edition in 2004. The book lists seven principles that, if established as habits, are supposed to help a person achieve true interdependent effectiveness. Covey argues this is achieved by aligning oneself to what he calls "true north" principles of a character ethic that he believes to be universal and timeless.[1] The book was enormously popular, and catapulted Covey into lucrative public-speaking appearances and workshops. He has also written a number of follow-up books, such as The Power Of The 7 Habits: Applications And Insights; Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families; and Beyond the Seven Habits. A sequel to The Seven Habits is The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness published in 2004. Also, Sean Covey (Stephen's son) has written a version for teens, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. This version simplifies the 7 Habits for younger readers so they can better understand them. In October 2006, Sean Covey also published The 6 Most Important Decisions You Will Ever Make: A Guide for Teens. This guide highlights key times in the life of a teen and gives advice on how to deal with them. Stephen Covey's eldest son, Stephen M.R. Covey, has written a book titled The Speed of Trust.
The 7 Habits • • • • • • •
Habit 1: Be Proactive: Principles of Personal Choice Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind: Principles of Personal Vision Habit 3: Put First Things First: Principles of Integrity & Execution Habit 4: Think Win/Win: Principles of Mutual Benefit Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Principles of Mutual Understanding Habit 6: Synergize: Principles of Creative Cooperation Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal
The chapters are dedicated to each of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives: 1. Habit 1: Covey emphasizes the original sense of the term "proactive" as coined by Victor Frankl. You can either be proactive or reactive when it comes to how you respond to certain things. When you are reactive, you blame other people and circumstances for obstacles or problems. Being proactive means taking responsibility for every aspect of your life. Initiative and taking action will then follow. Covey also argues that man is