The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

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 thirty-eight 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, unlike values, he believes to be universal and timeless.

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 Power of the Seven Habits, 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 to better understand them. In October 2006 Sean Covey also published "The 6 Most Important Decisions You Will Ever Make, a Guide for Teens" that highlights key times in the life of a teen and gives advice on how to deal with them. His oldest son, Stephen M.R. Covey has written a book titled "The Speed of Trust".

A course based on The Seven Habits is offered through FranklinCovey and at many corporations and government agencies such as the Regional Community Policing Institute-California, (www.rcpi-ca.org), United States Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. [1]Contents

[hide] 1 A Principled Approach

2 The Seven Habits

3 Related books by Covey

4 External links

A Principled ApproachThroughout the book Covey points to principles as the focus. The book presents the principles as an approach rather than a set of behaviors. The book imparts the principles in four sections.

Paradigms and Principles: the basic foundation for the creation of the habits.

Private Victory: the first three habits intended to take a person from dependence to independence, or one's ability to be self-reliant. You must be able to win your private victories before you can start on your public victories. If you start to win your public victories first, how can you feel good about yourself and still work on habits.

Public Victory: habits four through six lead to interdependence, the ability to align one's needs and desires with those of other people and create effective relationships.

Renewal: directs the reader to begin a process of self-improvement.

The Seven HabitsThe chapters are dedicated to each of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives:

1. Be Proactive. Here, Covey emphasizes the original sense of the term "reactive" as coined by Victor Frankl. You can either be proactive or reactive when it comes to how you act about certain things. Being "proactive" means taking responsibility for everything in life. When you're reactive, you blame other people and circumstances for obstacles or problems. Initiative, and taking action will then follow. Covey shows how man is different from other animals in that he has self-consciousness. He has the ability to detach himself and observe his own self, think about his thoughts. He goes on to say how this attribute enables him. It gives him the power not to be affected by his circumstances. Covey talks about 'Stimulus and Response'. Between Stimulus and Response, we have the power of free will to choose our response.

2. Begin with the End In Mind. This chapter is about setting long-term goals based on "true-north principles." Covey recommends to formulate a "personal vision statement" to document one's perception of one's own vision in life. He sees visualization as an important tool to develop this. He also deals with organizational vision statements, which he claims to be more effective if developed and supported by all members of an organization, rather than being prescribed.

3. Put First Things First. Here, Covey describes a framework for prioritizing work that is aimed at short-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear not to be urgent, but are in fact very important. Delegation is presented as an important part of time management. Successful delegation, according to Covey, focuses on results and benchmarks that are to be agreed in advance, rather than on prescribing detailed work plans.

4. Think Win/Win describes an attitude whereby mutually beneficial solutions are sought, that satisfy the needs of oneself, or, in the case of a conflict, both parties involved.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. Covey warns that giving out advice before having empathetically understood a person and their situation will likely result in that advice being rejected. Thoroughly reading out your own autobiography will decrease the chance of establishing a working communication.

6. Synergize describes a way of working in teams. Apply effective problem solving. Apply collaborative decision making. Value differences. Build on divergent strengths. Leverage creative collaboration. Embrace and leverage innovation. It is put forth that, when this is pursued as a habit, the result of the teamwork will exceed the sum of what each of the members could have achieved on their own. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

7. Sharpen the saw focuses on balanced self-satisfaction. Regaining what Covey calls "production capability" by engaging in carefully selected recreational activities.

First Things First (book)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, searchFirst Things First[1] (1994) is a self-help book written by Stephen Covey and A. Roger and Rebecca R. Merrill. It offers a time management approach that, if established as a habit, is supposed to help a person achieve "effectiveness" by aligning him- or herself to "First Things". The approach is a further development of the approach popularized in Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and other titles.

The book asserts that there are three generations of time management: first-generation task lists, second-generation personal organizers with deadlines and third-generation values clarification as incorporated in the Franklin Planner. Using the analogy of "the clock and the compass," the authors assert that identifying primary roles and principles provides a "true north" and reference when deciding what activities are most important, so that decisions are guided not merely by the "clock" of scheduling but by the "compass" of purpose and values. Asserting that people have a need to "to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy" they propose moving beyond "urgency addiction" into what they call "quadrant two" management (not the same as the quadrant II in a Cartesian coordinate system).

The four-quadrant matrix for importance and urgency.

A weekly worksheet to identify roles and plan important activities before filling in entire schedule.

In the book, Covey describes a framework for prioritizing work that is aimed at long-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear to be urgent, but are in fact less important. This is his 2x2 matrix: classifying tasks as urgent and non-urgent on one axis, and important or non-important on the other axis. His quadrant 2 has the items that are non-urgent but important. These are the ones he believes we are likely to neglect; but, should focus on to achieve effectiveness.

Important items are identified by focusing on a few key priorities and roles which will vary from person to person, then identifying small goals for each role each week, in order to maintain a holistic life balance. One tool for this is a worksheet that lists up to seven key roles, with three weekly goals per role, to be evaluated and scheduled into each week before other appointments occupy all available time with things that seem urgent but are not important. This concept is illustrated with a story that encourages people to "place the big rocks first."

Delegation is presented as an important part of time management. Successful delegation, according to Covey, focuses on results and benchmarks that are to be agreed in advance, rather than on prescribing detailed work plans.

5 Golden Rules for Wealth Arina Nikitina

Rule #1: Set Up Your Mind

You are what you want to be. Just like you are what you eat, it also follows that you are what you think. If you set your mind to work for somebody as an employee, you will look for a job and you will be satisfied working as an employee. However, if you set your mind properly to attain financial freedom, you will find means of getting wealthy without the pressures and hassles of working for someone else. It seems that the mindset of many people is almost always pre- occupied with working as an employee that they forget or unintentionally ignore to cross the line, to see how they can create real wealth. Just like a coin, they never bothered to look and to find out how it feels to be on the other side of it.

Im not saying that employers are bad. They provide jobs and its good. Im just painting a picture of one of lifes realities which we hardly notice at times. If you go to business, you eventually end up as an employer yourself. Im just opening the financial area of your mind. Consider this: Palms facing up is receiving, kind of similar to begging. Palm facing down is giving. Employees receive. Employers give. How do you want your palms position to be?

Rule #2: Think and Act Rich

Always keep in mind that you can attract as much money as you desire by knowing that it is all in the mind. It is what you choose to think, and act upon, that produces the money you want. What you think will be, will be. Technique #1: Feel Rich and Be Grateful

What I am about to teach you is a simple yet very powerful way of attracting wealth and prosperity in your life.

First, imagine what life would be like if you are rich. Dont just see it. Feel it as if youre already experiencing the luxuries and lifestyle of the rich.

Do you see yourself driving your dream car? What model and color is it? Touch the seat and feel its soft texture. Open the car radio and listen to your favorite music. Experience the joy of driving it towards your favorite place.

Maybe you could visualize a house. How many rooms does it have? Take a relaxing soak in the bath tub. Smell the food aroma coming out from the large kitchen. Play sports in your own private gym.

The important thing here is to believe that you are already rich.

Now doesnt that feel good? By doing this exercise, you are unleashing the powers of your subconscious and directing it to give you what youre dreaming of.

But it doesnt end there. To make this even more effective, breathe slowly while still hanging on to this wonderful feeling of being rich, and say a small thanks to God, or to a Higher Power.

By being grateful, you are commanding the Powers of the Universe to work in your favor. You are confirming that you are graciously accepting your blessings.

Try it out. Believe and feel that you are already wealthy, and be thankful for it. You will be astounded by the results.

Technique #2: Be Generous

Many people think that rich people are selfish, thats why they have lots of money at hand. This may be true in some cases; however, there are a lot more individuals who are wealthy because they know how to give.

When you give something from your heart without expecting anything in return, you release a powerful force that will trigger your good deed to "bounce" back to you in amazing, and sometimes unusual ways.

Whenever possible, be generous in giving to others. You will notice that what you receive, or the return, will be more than what you give. As humans, we have the tendency to reciprocate what we receive. But dont give for the sake of expecting something in return. Give freely from your heart, and the rewards would be greater.

The act of giving can summon the spirit of joy to come into your heart. How would you feel when you've given something to your less fortunate neighbors? Let me tell you that nothing could brighten up a day more than hearing them express their most heartfelt gratitude and seeing their smiles extend from ear to ear.

What you give doesnt necessarily have to be something material. It can also be time, effort, talent, service, or even an affectionate feeling.

Lastly, here's what I consider the most important rule about giving. Keep your good deeds to yourself. Don't announce to the whole world that you've donated $100,000 to your favorite charity or that you've helped save a child from a life-threatening disease.

If you really desire to give, do it secretly and in private.

Some people would write "anonymous" rather than their own names when they've made a contribution. The universe smiles upon these individuals, and they will get their just rewards in due time.

Consider this: If you are on the giving end, doesnt it mean that you are in a better position than the recipient? Doesnt it complement your character?

Technique #3: Dont Be Afraid To Lose

It is said that winners are not afraid to lose, because failure is a part of the process of success. People who are afraid to fail, lose success.

Like a coin or a chip, look at both sides of the possible effects of something you want to do. Say you want to buy a house or a car. It may seem to look like youre buying an asset. Take a look also at the other side, it might be a liability because of the additional expenses it would incur. Weigh your options.

Think rich and put your thinking into action.

Rule #3: Enhancing Your Money Consciousness

The next paragraphs will enhance further your money consciousness. In more ways than one, these moneymaking thoughts may sound like proverbs, but I find them very encouraging, hence I want to share them with you.

1. No one else will determine your future except yourself. Either you get up or sink down from where you are now. This can be determined on how you mold your thoughts. To be weak or strong, rich or poor, you decide your own fate. The effect of your thoughts eventually affects your life.