The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a classic. If you have never read this book, do so now. For your convenience it’s available in print and audio. Just pop a cassette into the car’s player and you can be rewarded with some of the best advice ever presented. Turn your commute into a classroom.
This book was first published in 1990, but remains a favorite with business leaders. The author tapped into a basic principle; namely that success is a result of both personal and professional effectiveness. These pages systematically show how to achieve this level of productiveness in both areas through what he calls a “paradigm shift”. That merely refers to changing your perception of how the world works. The author challenges the reader to make this shift by highlighting key areas, like time management and positive thinking. Once this change has taken place, the person is then ready to climb the corporate ladder with confidence.
Building on the premise that change comes from within, this book has the potential to solidly impact the reader’s life and workplace. But, it’s not a quick fix. These concepts will take time to understand and master. It’s recommended that this book be read slowly, allowing the principles to be fully understood before moving to the next one. In fact, to fully apply these concepts may take years. Yet, that’s not a negative aspect of the author’s work. Stephen Covey realizes that success is not an overnight happening; it comes in stages and by degrees. Yes, it can be painstakingly slow, but when it comes, it’s here to stay.
The title mentions “habits” and that’s important. A habit is something that develops over time. Successful businesspeople comprehend the necessity of thinking the right thoughts to bring about the right kinds of decisions. Covey demonstrates this through anecdotes as well as concise writing. The entire idea of being stuck in a negative mode of perception will be a startling revelation to readers, but more importantly is the author’s advice on moving beyond that obstacle. There is a good amount of psychology presented in these pages, all of which is incredibly useful in bringing about effective changes.
These seven habits are fully explained, and yes, you may need to slow down to capture their full meaning. The first three habits deal with personal responsibility, leadership and self-management. Granted, these are huge areas to deal with, but once again, if the author’s words are taken in small segments, they can bring about amazing results. To the author’s credit, he’s able to take these larger issues and present them within the framework of everyday occurrences. This sets the ideas more firmly in the reader’s mind by associating them with real life scenarios.
This holistic approach makes a lot of sense, but you will need time to fully master it. As the author explains, success and effective leadership is not something that will come to you without an investment of time. The formula for enduring success is right here in these pages; study it, apply it and watch the incredible results.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
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