The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Rating:
Summary: It's about Values
Review: I first read this book, at the recomendation of a Manager who was obsessed with the Franklin-Covey organizer system. And although, part of that system is represented in the book, I found that aspect to be the weakest part of this book.

How so? Effectiveness does not stem from what you do, it stems from what is important to you. What you value. Once you know what you value, you are able to set your priorities about things appropriately.

After reading this book several times, I began to realise that it wasn't going to help me get any better at using my organizer, because I already had a system for getting in touch with my deepest values -- I've kept a journal for years.

This book is an important reference, and I'd like to read it again. One of the "Values" that Steven Covey demonstrates, is the persistence to find solutions which meet all of our values. (Such as balance of work and family), rather than mechanically setting a priority and blindly following it out.

This book is well written and is very approachable. Covey does not hide the influence his faith makes upon him, and his approach of staying "values-centered" is a wonderful way to take "spiritual values" into the secular arena.

One observation that I've made about people who have read this book, is that many have read this book in the spirit of "Yeah, I read that, and there's some truth to it." But it seems that the hype that this book has received over the last decade has washed out it's message somehow.

It takes real courage to try to integrate all of one's values. To develop one's self and life to combine values, rather than choose values. That's a rather deep point, and that's why I read this book again from time to time.

Rating:
Summary: Great book but workshop is better
Review: About the book
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The book is NOT just a description of the habits. It has excesises, examples, etc.I worked on all the excersises patiently through out my workshop and I realised so many things about myself.

You also learn lot of other things like "Three person learning" etc whick again look like common sense.

My favorite is the "First things first" habit. The way its explained in this book is amazing.

Buy the book and if possible attend a workshop.

Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: This is probably one of the all-time modern classics. If you read this book and follow Covey's recommendations, your life WILL improve... beyond your imagination!

Covey is a brilliant writer, he captures your attention and manages to keep it throughout the book. He provides you -the reader- with plenty of examples, both personal and professional and manages to inspire and motivate you at the same time.

This is a book that MUST be read by everyone.. it is an inspiration at all levels for anybody who is serious about improving the quality of their lives. It is a book for people who are not simply content to go from day to day, but wish to experience life at its best.

Rating:
Summary: A Bill of Judeo-Christian Goods
Review: This book poses as a guide to personal efficacy but is too deeply colored by Covey's religious views. Throughout it he speaks of "correct principals" which our clearly his Christian values. There are many great authors out there who have covered this ground with greater depth and made it more useful to the reader without trying to convert you to a their personal value system (I recommend Lou Tice and Albert Bandura). This book may not help you be more effective, but it will definitely teach you how to become more like Steve Covey.

Rating:
Summary: Stating the obvious
Review: Yes these are all things that everyone should probably know and be able to assert in their own lives every day but the fact is that we get into a slump and sometimes just need a swift kick in the pants. This is what this book has done for me and I would recommend it to any one else. You are not going to get anything more from it than you expect. The people that gripe about the book are the exact people that he is talking about with the personality ethics. They are the people that want to skip the steps in the middle to reap the benefits at the end and you can't do that it you are truly looking deep in yourself and analyzing your character. The book is exactly what he tells you that it is going to be at the front, facts taht should be blantently obvious to all of us but the fact is that they aren't and sometimes we need to be reminded.

Rating:
Summary: Old Truths Made NEW!
Review: I almost shouldn't write this review since we all know about the book and what it says. In fact, the title has become proverbial, and has been ripped-off many times. And Dr. Covey's son's book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens" has been parodied on the Simpsons (episode AABF22), which is the best compliment that can be paid to anything.

This book is any easy read, and I recommend that the younger the reader, the better it will be for them and everyone. There is no mumbo-jumbo, and if a child can work his way through "Alice in Wonderland," then he or she would be ready for this book. It is easier to learn while young, since you have the years of keeping up the habit working for you. Lenin said that if you give him a child, he would make a Bolshevik for life. That truth also works in the opposite direction. Raise a youth in the truth, and he will be true his entire life.

I think several things set this book apart from other self-help books. First, this book had a strong spiritual under-grindings. Every page bleeds light. I think this spiritual aspect comes from Dr. Covey's Christian faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This faith keeps him from falling into intimidation or other superficial "techniques" of getting things done. Covey advocates a total overhaul of the soul in order to get your life into order. Christianity advocates repentance, which is merely change for the better, and Cover advocates a type of Business Management repentance.

Secondly, Covey has a circular system. You have seen that "hourglass in a circle" diagram that is the visual depiction of Covey's philosophy. In a word, I would say that Covey's philosophy embraces a type of a circular renewal with progressive. For whatever reason, Western thought embraces a linear progression, while Eastern thought is circular. The Jews have managed to bridge the gap between the two, with linear progression from Creation to Abraham to Moses, while maintaining the circularity with the Holy Days at the temple. Cove describes this process of combining the circular with the progressive in his "upward spiral" diagram. C. S. Lewis described in chapter 25 of "The Screwtape Letters," that the progressive coupled with the circular as a type of divine genius. You have the novelty of progress coupled with assurance of habit.

Thirdly, Covey focuses on habits. He wants all of these principles to become engrained by force of repetition. This idea goes back to Aristotle, and was elucidated by Thomas Aquinas. However, all philosophical ramblings and mumbo-jumbo aside, this idea of habits is common-sensical. Habit is a force of will, and is the way we do things such as memorize phone numbers or passwords. We can do the same thing with good habits. We complain about bad habits, but with a little effort, we can replace bad habits with good habits. The ancients understood this, but wee have seem to forgotten this in our pseudo-sophistication. After all, Socrates without an Internet was smarter than most people alive, with digitized libraries at their fingertips.

There are other aspects to Covey philosophy, but I think that these three points cover some of the unique ground. Personally, I hate motivational speakers-Chris Farley was the best! They focus on emotional siren songs that ultimately have no long-term power. Covey, however, advocates an ancient way of doings things; which ancient was has stood the test of time. And that is history's unalterable verdict.

Rating:
Summary: Verbose
Review: There are better books than this. This is preachy, extremely wordy and a boring read. The ideas got me interested initially but I got sick of the few good ideas that this looooong book is based on, being repeated, again and again. Covey treats the reader like a simpleton. Started skimming the book at chapter 3 onwards - as other reviewers have suggested it may be worth borrowing from the library but don't waste money on a copy.
Many people have raved about the book - I wonder how many have actually gained any long term benefits from it? Oh well, can't really blame the Covey PR machine for cashing in on people's gullibility.

Rating:
Summary: Great tools to increase both effectiveness and happiness
Review: Stephen R. Covey holds and MBA from Harvard Business School and a doctorate from Brigham Young University. He is the author of several bestsellers build on this particular book. So what do you write about a book with 253 reviews? Never mind, I'll do my best. (I must apologize that this book review is longer than my usual ones.)

"The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People embody many of the fundamental principles of human effectiveness. These habits are basic; they are primary. They represent the internalization of correct principles upon which enduring happiness and success are based." Covey has split the book up in four parts: (1) Paradigms and Principles; (2) Private Victory; (3) Public Victory; and (4) Renewal.

In Part I - Paradigms and Principles, Covey challenges our thinking and provides an overview of the seven habits. He wants us to shape out thinking so we can see issues from different viewpoints other than our own. This way of thinking he refers to as "a principle-centered, character-based, "inside-out" approach to personal and interpersonal effectiveness." And the 7 habits are the tools to make this level of thinking possible.

In Part Two - Private Victory, Covey starts to discuss the first three habits. Habit 1 is the habit of 'proactivity', which means more than taking initiative. "It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives." In short, we should not be reactive or responsive, we need to act and create. Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind, is based on principles of personal leaders. It means that should first set out our own values, or our personal mission statement, before we start managing/doing things. He provides several questions and an appendix so that you can create your own personal mission statement. Covey also provides tools to write a family statement and an organizational statement. Habit 3, Put First Things First, is the practical fulfiment of habits 1 and 2: "Habit 3, then, is the second creation, the physical creation." Covey splits activities into a two-by-two matrix based on urgency and importancy. Surprisingly enough, most important is Quadrant II which stands for not urgent and important. According to Covey activities in Quandrant II would make a tremendous positive difference in people's life. These three habits are the parts of Private Victory.

In Part Three, Covey discusses Public Victory. This part focuses on interaction between ourselves and outsiders and this interdependence can only be build on a foundation of true independence (Part Two - Private Victory) Habit 4 is called Think Win/Win, whereby "Win/Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. ... It's not your way or my way; it's a better way, a higher way." Covey argues that we should either choose between Win/Win or No Deal. Habit 5 consists of two parts - (i) Seek First to Understand, (ii) Then to Be Understood - and is probably one of the most difficult ones around since it requires empathic communication, which includes listening! "Although it's risky and hard, seek first to understand, or diagnose before you prescribe, is a correct principle manifest in many areas of life." The other half, Then to Be Understood, requires consideration and takes courage. "When you can present your own ideas clearly, specifically, visually, and most important, contextually you significantly increase the credibility of your ideas." If you can succeed, Habit 6 - Synergize is the highest activity in all life: "the true test and manifestation of all of the other habits put together. ... It catalyzes, unifies, and unleashes the greatest powers within people."

Part Four - Renewal is considerably different that the first three parts of the book. It is the circle surrounding the first six habits. Covey calls habit 7 Sharpen the Saw, which is the renewal of the four dimensions of your nature: Physical; spiritual; mental; and social/emotional. Renewal makes it possible for us to move up the upward spiral of growth and change, which ultimately leads to continuous improvement. In the final chapter Covey tells the story of how he and his wife went through the inside-out process while he was on sabbatical leave.

Yes, I do like this book. It contains an enormous amount of information, but it is not a struggle due to the simple writing style of the author. Some people will not like this book since it will mean delving deep into their innerselves. But this book provides tools in the form of habits to make it possible for people to become more effective and, most importantly, bring more happiness. Yes, the seven habits are very simple and, perhaps, predictable. And I do not think that they should be taken by Covey's every word, but the the overall picture - "effective, useful, and peaceful lives ... for ourselves, and for our prosperity" - should be the goal! Highly recommended - and not just to business people.

Rating:
Summary: Personal Journey Handbook
Review: Is life getting the "best out of us" instead of " us getting the best out life"? I encourage everyone who has either hit a plateau in life's journey or would like to envelope life and all it's goodness to read or listen to Dr. Steven Covey's Seven Habit's of Highly Effective People.

It is only when we take charge of our lives that we experience life at it's fullest. Remember, if we keep doing the same things, we will keep getting the same results. Are you happy with your results? If you are, The Seven Habits will bring you a greater level of capacity. If you are not, The Seven Habits will open the window of life and grace you with perfumed air!

May your faith guide you to the goodness life has in store for you. The Seven Habits will embrace you if you embrace them.

Our life is our responsibily. The definition of responsibilty is "to be Reponse-Able". We are ALL able to respond. Enjoy the journey.

In God's Grace, ALG, Jr. Bronx, New York.

Rating:
Summary: the 7 habits of highly effective people
Review: For the past ten years I have been reading self improvements books and various philosophies about life but this is unique and best. What a great experience in reading this book. Can anyone write a book like this hereafter? Stephen you are great.