7 Habits of Highly Effective People

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by: Stephen R. Covey

Themes: Relationships, Personal Growth, Shifting Perspective

Read When: Outer forces you have no control over are bothering you. Your work setting/personal life has presented challenges with other people, you have difficulty cultivating or keeping relationships.

Favorite Quotes:

"Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education." 

“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.”

“Make small commitments and keep them. Be a light, not a judge. Be a model, not a critic. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase. Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern. They focus on the weakness of other people and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of victimization. The negative energy generated by that focus, combined with neglect in areas they could do something about, causes their Circle of Influence to shrink.”

Key Takeaways

My dad bought me 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens when I was growing up. I don't know if you can tell but I'm a sucker for personal growth books. I do not want to be the same person my entire life; I strive to be in a constant state of growth and development. Remaining stagnant makes me antsy. Covey's mindset on personal growth and well-being was one of my first exposures to the topic of personal growth. SPOILER ALERT: The 7 habits are below, but highly recommend the full read (much more effective).

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw